History Art / TheGhentAltarpiece

The Ghent Altarpiece, also known as "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb", is a masterpiece of 15th century [[UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance Renaissance]] painting by the Flemish brothers Creator/{{Hubert and Jan van Eyck}}. As the name suggests, it was created for St Bavo's Cathedral in the city of Ghent in modern Belgium, and is still located there, albeit in a side chapel rather than over the main altar (mostly for security reasons). However, it has suffered a few moves in its time. As well as being highly significant to the history of European art, the Altarpiece has quite a history of its own; one historian estimates that it has been the subject of 13 crimes and seven thefts. (Both UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte and UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler misappropriated it in their time.) This in turn has caused it to show up as a plot element in a couple of works of fiction. One panel, showing "The Just Judges", was stolen in 1934 and has never been recovered; the Altarpiece currently on display has a high-quality painted reproduction in that position.

* ThePaladin: The figures in the "Knights of Christ" panel are clearly intended to represent the ideal warrior of good.

* CainAndAbel: The trope namers appear on the back of one of the panels, in mid-murder.

* InspirationalMartyr: The lower central panel features groups of male and female Christian martyrs -- archetypes of this trope.

* AdaptationalModesty: Two panels show Adam and Eve nude (though covering their groins with their hands). These so offended people in the 19th century that those panels were removed and replaced with duplicates on which the pair were clothed. The original panels have since been restored to their places. The clothed versions are on display elsewhere in the cathedral for historical interest.

The Ghent Altarpiece, also known as "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb", is a masterpiece of 15th century [[UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance Renaissance]] {{painting|s}} by the Flemish brothers Creator/HubertAndJanVanEyck. As the name suggests, it was created for St Bavo's Cathedral in the city of Ghent in modern Belgium, and is still located there, albeit in a side chapel rather than over the main altar (mostly for security reasons). However, it has suffered a few moves in its time. As well as being highly significant to the history of European art, the Altarpiece has quite a history of its own; one historian estimates that it has been the subject of 13 crimes and seven thefts. (Both UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte and UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler misappropriated it in their time.) This in turn has caused it to show up as a plot element in a couple of works of fiction. One panel, showing "The Just Judges", was stolen in 1934 and has never been recovered; the Altarpiece currently on display has a high-quality painted reproduction in that position.

The Altarpiece actually consists of multiple panels, showing various scenes and images of Christian religious significance. The panels can be closed up, making further images on their backs visible. The original outer framework was destroyed during UsefulNotes/TheProtestantReformation; it may actually have included clockwork mechanisms to open and close the panels. The technical accomplishment of the painting is stunning, and marks the point where Medieval idealism gives way to Renaissance observation of nature. Nonetheless, the subject matter is loaded down with religious symbolism and references that keep art historians occupied identifying meanings; in its time, it must have been considered quite {{Troperiffic}}.

* AdaptationalModesty: Two panels show Adam and Eve nude (though covering their groins with their hands). This so offended people in the 19th century that those panels were removed and replaced with duplicates on which the pair were clothed. The original panels have since been restored to their places. The clothed versions are on display elsewhere in the cathedral for historical interest.

* CainAndAbel: The trope namers appear on the back of one the panels, in mid murder.

* OurAngelsAreDifferent: Two panels depict music-making angels -- one group singing, the other playing instruments. Oddly, especially for the time, they appear quite human, with no obvious angelic features -- they lack wings and are not idealised in appearance, though they are sexless. They are identified as angels by their position in the composition and by inscriptions attached to them. (There are also some more conventionally winged angels in the lower central panel.)

The Ghent Altarpiece, also known as "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb", is a masterpiece of 15th century [[UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance Renaissance]] {{painting|s}} by the Flemish brothers Creator/{{Hubert|VanEyck}} and Creator/JanVanEyck. As the name suggests, it was created for St Bavo's Cathedral in the city of Ghent in modern Belgium, and is still located there, albeit in a side chapel rather than over the main altar (mostly for security reasons). However, it has suffered a few moves in its time. As well as being highly significant to the history of European art, the Altarpiece has quite a history of its own; one historian estimates that it has been the subject of 13 crimes and seven thefts. (Both UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte and UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler misappropriated it in their time.) This in turn has caused it to show up as a plot element in a couple of works of fiction. One panel, showing "The Just Judges", was stolen in 1934 and has never been recovered; the Altarpiece currently on display has a high-quality painted reproduction in that position.

The Ghent Altarpiece, also known as "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb", is a masterpiece of 15th century [[UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance Renaissance]] painting by the brothers Creator/{{Hubert|VanEyck}} and Creator/JanVanEyck. As the name suggests, it was created for St Bavo's Cathedral in the city of Ghent in modern Belgium, and is still located there, albeit in a side chapel rather than over the main altar (mostly for security reasons). However, it has suffered a few moves in its time. As well as being highly significant to the history of European art, the Altarpiece has quite a history of its own; one historian estimates that it has been the subject of 13 crimes and seven thefts. (Both UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte and UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler misappropriated it in their time.) This in turn has caused it to show up as a plot element in a couple of works of fiction. One panel, showing "The Just Judges", was stolen in 1934 and has never been recovered; the Altarpiece currently on display has a high-quality painted reproduction in that position.

The Ghent Altarpiece, also known as "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb", is a masterpiece of 15th century [[UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance Renaissance]] painting by the brothers Hubert and Creator/JanVanEyck. As the name suggests, it was created for St Bavo's Cathedral in the city of Ghent in modern Belgium, and is still located there, albeit in a side chapel rather than over the main altar (mostly for security reasons). However, it has suffered a few moves in its time. As well as being highly significant to the history of European art, the Altarpiece has quite a history of its own; one historian estimates that it has been the subject of 13 crimes and seven thefts. (Both UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte and UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler misappropriated it in their time.) This in turn has caused it to show up as a plot element in a couple of works of fiction. One panel, showing "The Just Judges", was stolen in 1934 and has never been recovered; the Altarpiece currently on display has a high-quality painted reproduction in that position.

The Altarpiece actually consists of multiple panels, showing various scenes and images of Christian religious significance. The panels can be closed up, making further images on their backs visible. The original outer framework was destroyed during UsefulNotes/TheProtestantReformation; it make actually have included clockwork mechanisms to open and close the panels. The technical accomplishment of the painting is stunning, and marks the point where Medieval idealism gives way to Renaissance observation of nature. Nonetheless, the subject matter is loaded down with religious symbolism and references that keep art historians occupied identifying meanings; in its time, it must have been considered quite {{Troperiffic}}.

The Ghent Altarpiece, also known as "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb", is a masterpiece of 15th century [[UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance Renaissance]] painting by the brothers Hubert and Jan van Eyck. As the name suggests, it was created for St Bavo's Cathedral in the city of Ghent in modern Belgium, and is still located there, albeit in a side chapel rather than over the main altar (mostly for security reasons). However, it has suffered a few moves in its time. As well as being highly significant to the history of European art, the Altarpiece has quite a history of its own; one historian estimates that it has been the subject of 13 crimes and seven thefts. (Both UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte and UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler misappropriated it in their time.) This in turn has caused it to show up as a plot element in a couple of works of fiction. One panel, showing "The Just Judges", was stolen in 1934 and has never been recovered; the Altarpiece currently on display has a high-quality painted reproduction in that position.

* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: The complete Altarpiece features dozens or hundreds of figures, all beautifully executed. The sheer scale of the creation is impressive.

* MissingEpisode: The "Just Judges" panel seems to be completely lost.

!! Works in Which the Altarpiece Features:

* ''Literature/TheFall'': In Albert Camus's novel, one character turns out to have stolen the "Just Judges" panel.
* ''Film/TheMonumentsMen'': The heroes of the film are assigned during WWII to recover art stolen by the Nazis, including the Altarpiece.
* Music/PattiSmith wrote a paean to the Altarpiece's complex art in her book ''Year of the Monkey'', and took some unusually angled photos of it for a 2013 art show.

----

The Ghent Altarpiece, also known as "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb", is a masterpiece of 15th century [[UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance Renaissance]] painting by the brothers Hubert and Jan van Eyck. As the name suggests, it was created for St Bavo's Cathedral, in the city of Ghent in modern Belgium, and is still located there, albeit in a side chapel rather than over the main altar (mostly for security reasons). However, it has suffered a few moves in its time. As well as being highly significant to the history of European art, the Altarpiece has quite a history of its own; one historian estimates that it has been the subject of 13 crimes and seven thefts. (Both UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte and UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler misappropriated it in their time.) This in turn has caused it to show up as a plot element in a couple of works of fiction. One panel, showing "The Just Judges", was stolen in 1934 and has never been recovered; the Altarpiece currently on display has a high-quality painted reproduction in that position.

* OurAngelsAreDifferent: Two panels depict music-making angels -- one group singing, the other playing instruments. Oddly, especially for the time, they appear quite human, with no obvious angelic features -- they lack wings and are not idealised in appearance, though they are sexless. They are identified as angels by their position in the composition and by inscriptions attached to them.

The Ghent Altarpiece, also known as "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb", is a masterpiece of 15th century [[UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance Renaissance]] painting by the brothers Hubert and Jan van Eyck. As the name suggests, it was created for St Bavo's Cathedral, in the city of Ghent in modern Belgium, and is still located there, albeit in a side chapel rather than over the main altar (mostly for security reasons). However, it has suffered a few moves in its time. As well as being highly significant to the history of European art, the Altarpiece has quite a history of its own; one historian estimates that it has been the subject of 13 crimes and seven thefts. (Both UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte and UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler misappropriated it in their time.) This in turn has caused it to show up as a plot element in a couple of works of fiction. One panel, showing "the Just Judges", was stolen in 1934 and has never been recovered; the altarpiece currently on display has a high-quality painted reproduction in that position.

The Ghent Altarpiece, also known as "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb", is a masterpiece of 15th century [[UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance Renaissance]] painting by the brothers Hubert and Jan van Eyck. As the name suggests, it was created for St Bavo's Cathedral, in the city of Ghent in modern Belgium, and is still located there, albeit in a side chapel rather than over the main altar (mostly for security reasons). However, it has suffered a few moves in its time. As well as being highly significant to the history of European art, the Altarpiece has quite a history of its own; one historian estimates that it has been the subject of 13 crimes and seven thefts. (Both UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte and UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler misappropriated it in their time.) This in turn has caused it to show up as a plot element in several works of fiction. One panel, showing "the Just Judges", was stolen in 1934 and has never been recovered; the altarpiece currently on display has a high-quality painted reproduction in that position.

The Ghent Altarpiece, also known as "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb", is a masterpiece of 15th century [[UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance Renaissance]] painting by the brothers Hubert and Jan van Eyck. As the name suggests, it was created for St Bavo's Cathedral, in the city of Ghent in modern Belgium, and is still located there, albeit in a side chapel rather than over the main altar (mostly for security reasons); however, it has suffered a few moves in its time. As well as being highly significant to the history of European art, the Altarpiece has quite a history of its own; one historian estimates that it has been the subject of 13 crimes and seven thefts. This in turn has caused it to show up as a plot element in several works of fiction.

It actually consists of multiple panels, showing various scenes and images of Christian religious significance. The panels can be closed up, making further images on their backs visible. The original outer framework was destroyed during UsefulNotes/TheProtestantReformation; it make actually have included clockwork mechanisms to open and close the panels. The technical accomplishment of the painting is stunning, and marks the point where Medieval idealism gives way to Renaissance observation of nature. Nonetheless, the subject matter is loaded down with religious symbolism and references that keep art historians occupied identifying meanings; in its time, it must have been considered quite {{Troperiffic}}.