Ghent Altarpiece
Jan van Eyck, Hubert van Eyck, 1432
St Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent
The Ghent Altarpiece was commissioned by the Ghent patrician Jodocus Vijdt from Hubert van Eyck and finished by the latter’s younger brother Jan in 1432. The polyptych is still displayed in St Bavo’s Cathedral (formerly St John’s). It has been moved from its original location to a newly-designed showcase in the Gothic choir. As a cornerstone in the history of painting and one of the first panel paintings that underpin our understanding of realism, the altarpiece therefore occupies a prominent place in the CODART Canon. Its peerless painting technique has astounded generation after generation of painters and continues to be admired to this day. I was privileged to be part of an advisory council that initiated and supervised the conservation treatment of the Ghent Altarpiece that has revealed much of the original surface as painted by the Van Eyck brothers.
— Till-Holger Borchert, Director, Musea Brugge, Bruges
Object details
Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, known as ‘The Ghent Altarpiece’ 1432
Oil on panel | 375 x 520 cm
St Bavo’s Cathedral, Ghent
Jan van Eyck
Maaseik 1390/1399 – 1441 Bruges
Hubert van Eyck
Maaseik 1366/1370 – 1426 Ghent
Gallery
Explore more
High resolution images on Closer to Van Eyck
View the Ghent Altarpiece before and after restoration
View on closertovaneyck.beDe Vlaamse Kunstroof
Podcast on the theft of The Just Judges panel (6 ep., in Dutch)
Listen on dagennacht.nlExhibition - Van Eyck: An Optical Revolution
See the panels of the Ghent Altarpiece in the virtual tour through the exhibition
View on vaneyck2020.beOnline tour through Van Eyck: An Optical Revolution
By co-curator Till-Holger Borchert
View on visitflanders.com