Hugo van der Goes (c. 1440–1482) was the most important Netherlandish artist of the second half of the 15th century. His innovative pictorial compositions are characterised by monumental figures and realistic narrative moments. They paved the way for the development of Netherlandish painting during the following centuries.

The artist worked in Ghent and in the Roode Monastery near Brussels. His works were admired by his contemporaries and were copied countless times until well into the 17th century. This modern monograph pays tribute to the character and importance of his numerically modest works. It juxtapose his great altarpieces with more intimate panels, drawings and miniatures as well as works from his immediate circle. Lavishly illustrated and competently explained, the publication creates a comprehensive overview of the creative oeuvre of a magnificent artist.