Hugo van der Goes

Hugo van der Goes (ca 1440-1482) was one of the most influential Northern European artists of the latter 15th century. Born c.1440 inGhent, Belgium little is known of his life story. He became a member of the painters’ guild of Ghent in 1467, repeatedly serving as its dean. He moved into the Red Cloister monastery near Brussels as a lay brother around 1478, presumably because he was suffering from attacks of mental illness. However, he did continue to paint. Characteristic of his work are his monumental figures. He died in Ghent in 1482.