Hals–Rembrandt
Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem
6 November–28 February 2027

Though only 30 km separated Frans Hals and Rembrandt van Rijn – who worked in Haarlem and Amsterdam respectively – there’s no record of the 17th-century masters ever meeting. Their work, however, bears striking similarities, from the ordinary people they chose as subjects to their loose painting styles. This exhibition of 19 works explores what the pair had in common – as well as the traits that set them apart.

Van Eyck: The Portraits
National Gallery, London
21 November–11 April 2027

Portraiture as we know it today would not exist were it not for Jan van Eyck, this show argues. The unprecedented naturalism of his portraits – some of the first to depict people other than royals or religious figures – had a transformative effect on the genre, shifting it away from the flat faces that characterised much of the early Renaissance. Taking in loans from across Europe, this show is the first to present all nine of his known painted portraits together.

Cosimo I de’ Medici: Art and Dynasty
Wallace Collection, London
18 November–21 March 2027

A ceremonial sword with a lion-head pommel; a lavish maiolica wine cooler – the objects in this show present a clear image of the life of luxury and power enjoyed by Cosimo I de’ Medici, first Grand Duke of Tuscany. Among the paintings on display is the famous portrait of Cosimo’s first wife, Eleanor of Toledo, by her favourite painter, Bronzino, which has recently been restored (c. 1562– 72).

Jan Steen: Sacred and Profane
National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin
21 November–25 April 2027

From scenes of rowdy feasts and bustling schoolrooms to dramatic paintings designed for moral instruction, the Dutch painter mastered all the genres he turned his hand to. This show, marking the 400th anniversary of Steen’s birth, explores his range, with works on display including The Wrath of Ahasuerus (1668– 1670).