The St Pieterskerk Treasury boasts two triptychs by Flemish Primitive artist Dirk Bouts (1415-75), who spent much of his life in Leuven. Bouts painted the triptychs between 1464-67, one of which, Het Laatste Avondmaal (The Last Supper), is considered to be one of the period's masterpieces. It mixes the Biblical theme with contemporary Gothic architecture.
Strictly controlled paintings with rich, broad landscapes and static, unmoving figures were Bouts' passion. The panels have a lively history: they were sold off several times and ended up in Germany; returned to Leuven after WWI as part of the war reparations package, they were carted off again during WWII and saw the war out in a salt mine.
