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Thursday
Mar292012

The Ghent Altarpiece

DateThursday, March 29, 2012 at 6:13PM

Ghent Altarpiece detail, completed c. 1432, closed view, back panelsGhent Altarpiece detail, completed c. 1432, The Virgin MaryOne of the great masterpieces of art is the treasured Ghent Altarpiece--an early Flemish polyptych panel painting. Begun by Hubert van Eyck and completed by his brother, Jan van Eyck, in around 1432, this work was a major innovation for its time. It introduced a shift away from the idealization of the Middle Ages to a more precise representation of nature. When opened, the altarpiece measures 11 x 15 feet (3.5 x 4.5 metres), so it’s not a small matter, to be sure!

You can find lots of information about the Ghent Altarpiece online. But for a fantastic look at an ongoing project designed to assess the structural condition of this seminal work, visit Closer to Van Eyck: Rediscovering the Ghent Altarpiece. Here you'll find multiple views of the panels, various types of photographic analysis (including macrophotography, infrared macrophotography, reflectograph and x-radiography), along with a wealth of documentation and details.

A Tip of the Hat to my friend, Linda C., for turning me on to this site!

AuthorJill | CommentPost a Comment |

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