ARDS. Association for Research and Documentation of medieval Sculpture

31/03/2026

A position as Research Associate (wissenschaftliche:r Mitarbeiter:in) is currently open at the Skulpturensammlung and the Museum of Byzantine Art of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, which house major collections of European sculpture from the early Middle Ages to the late eighteenth century as well as leading holdings of Late Antique and Byzantine art. The role includes scholarly and curatorial responsibilities related to Early Modern sculpture.

More information:

zu besetzen. Die Skulpturensammlung und das Museum für Byzantinische Kunst (SBM) gehören zu den bedeutendsten Sammlungen ihrer Art. Die Skulpturensammlung zeigt Meisterwerke europäischer Plastik vom frühen Mittelalter bis zum ausgehenden 18. Jahrhundert. Das Museum für Byzantinische Kunst besit...

31/03/2026

Reminder: submit your papers for 'Innovative Research Tools and Methodologies for the Study of Medieval and Renaissance Sculpture' by 16 May!

Call for Papers! On 26 & 27 November we’re organising the 13th Annual Ards Conference in M Leuven, focusing on innovative research tools and methodologies for the study of medieval and Renaissance sculpture. Digital technologies, advanced imaging, and interdisciplinary approaches are transforming how we study sculpture: so we’re inviting scholars, conservators, technologists, and heritage professionals to submit their proposals. Deadline: 16 May. More information on www.ards.be

🤝 RKD - Nederlands Instituut voor Kunstgeschiedenis

03/03/2026

Call for Papers! On 26 & 27 November we’re organising the 13th Annual Ards Conference in M Leuven, focusing on innovative research tools and methodologies for the study of medieval and Renaissance sculpture. Digital technologies, advanced imaging, and interdisciplinary approaches are transforming how we study sculpture: so we’re inviting scholars, conservators, technologists, and heritage professionals to submit their proposals. Deadline: 16 May. More information on www.ards.be

🤝 RKD - Nederlands Instituut voor Kunstgeschiedenis

03/03/2026

Yesterday we organised a successful Ards Expert Meeting in Aachen. With around 60 specialists we explored the theme of moving sculptures, inspired by the exhibition ‘Praymobil. Medieval Artworks in Motion’ Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum. It was also a lovely reunion with ‘our’ Christ on the Cold Stone M Leuven😉 On view until 15 March!

21/11/2025

Registration is officially open for our Ards Expert Meeting on the exhibition ‘Praymobil. Medieval Artworks in Motion’ at the Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum! Join us on 2 March in Aachen for a day of talks on the theme of moving medieval sculptures, followed by an exclusive after-hours visit to the exhibition 😍

https://www.ards.be/agenda/00279

📸Saint George, sixteenth century, Kerkfabriek Sint Jan de Doper, Schulen (Herk de Stad, Belgium), Photo: CC_BY KIK-IRPA, Brussels, KN 009598, Hervé Pigeolet, KIK.

02/10/2025

⭐ SAVE THE DATE ⭐ On 2 March 2026, we’re teaming up with the Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum for a special Ards Expert Meeting. Expect inspiring lectures and an exclusive visit to the exhibition 'Praymobil. Medieval Artworks on the Move'. More details coming soon! https://www.ards.be/agenda/00279
📸 Palm Donkey, Southern Germany, c. 1500, Aachen, Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum, Photo: Anne Gold.

11/09/2025

New additions to our Ards library!

01/07/2025

Herken je dit retabelfragment?

Op onderstaande foto (📷 c000499) uit onze beeldbank BALaT (https://balat.kikirpa.be/object/11029000) staan enkele vrouwelijke heiligen en profeten afgebeeld. De houten sculptuur is een fragment van een altaarstuk en is 16de-eeuws.

Weet jij waar deze foto genomen kan zijn, om welk retabel het gaat of waar dit kunstwerk zich momenteel bevindt?

Laat het weten!

19/06/2025

Registration is now open! Click here for more information: https://www.ards.be/agenda/00277

⭐SAVE THE DATE⭐

On Thursday 4 September, we are partnering with CODART, Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam, and the Rijksmuseum to organize a CODARTfocus meeting dedicated to the exhibition Artus Quellinus – Sculptor of Amsterdam at the Royal Palace. The program will include an exclusive after-hours visit to the exhibition with an introduction by curators Liesbeth van Noortwijk (Royal Palace Amsterdam) and Bieke van der Mark (Rijksmuseum).

Artus Quellinus – Sculptor of Amsterdam is the very first overview exhibition of Quellinus’s work. The Royal Palace is the ideal venue for the exhibition, as its sculptural decoration was his magnum opus. This in situ experience is complemented with many works from the Rijksmuseum, as well as masterpieces by the sculptor from national and international collections that rarely or never travel.

https://www.ards.be/agenda/00271

26/05/2025

That’s a wrap on !

Last week we hosted the 12th Annual Ards Conference, this year diving into the theme 'Colour in the Choir', in collaboration with Iconostalla.

The programme featured inspiring talks, plenty of discussion, and a keynote by Justin Kroesen.

We started with a visit to the 'Art that Moves' exhibition and the permanent collection at M Leuven, including a hands-on object session. We also explored beautiful churches in Leuven, Aarschot, Diest, and Zoutleeuw: bringing our questions straight into context.

And of course, no Ards conference is complete without good food, great company, and drinks on the museum terrace!☀️

Thanks to everyone who joined us and made it such a memorable week!

26/05/2025

We're thrilled to announce that Volume 1 of our 'Studies in Medieval and Renaissance Sculpture' series is now out with Brepols.

This first volume builds on a decade of research and the landmark 2019 exhibition 'Borman and Sons. The Best Sculptors' at M Leuven: the first-ever monographic show on the renowned Borman family of Brussels sculptors, active from the late 15th to mid-16th century.

Developed from the 6th Annual Ards Colloquium, the publication offers new perspectives on the Bormans’ position within the artistic networks of the Duchy of Brabant, alongside fresh insights into their commissions, stylistic developments, and iconography.

👉 https://www.brepols.net/products/IS-9782503607993-1
👉 https://www.ards.be/publications