Art historians and amateurs alike continue to be captivated by the 15th and early 16th century art of the Southern Netherlands. Their interest focuses not only on the stylistic and iconographic aspects of the paintings but also their technical construction. Furthermore, recent studies and exhibitions have demonstrated that the impact and effect of Southern Netherlandish art production on society in that period was exceptionally great. In 1998 in Leuven an extensive exhibition took place, dedicated to the oeuvre of Dirk Bouts (+1475). Coupled to this was an international colloquium, in which hitherto unexplored and sometimes controversial aspects of Bouts study were offered for discussion. This publication is the result. The articles deal with the painters life and work, and his artistic relations with Northern and Southern Netherlandish painting. Attention is also devoted to the intellectual iconography of Bouts' work, and to his great stylistic influence on European painting in general. The results of the most recent technological research are also comprehensively described and interpreted.
Lastly, the continuing influence of Bouts oeuvre discernible in more recent art is discussed. These articles thus provide an insight into the present state of Bouts study, and open important avenues for further research. The Bouts Studies follow the Memling Studies, Proceedings of the International Colloquium (Bruges, 10-12 November 1994), published in 1997.