The Ghent Altarpiece is a painting by the brilliant Dutch painter Jan van Eyck, commissioned by the generous customer of fine art works, Jos Veidt.

The masterpiece is a folding altar on which the artist reproduced the universal system of the universe in its hierarchy. In it, he illustrated the history of mankind from the fall to salvation.

The main idea is the ascent of man to the heights of perfection. The upper doors are a reflection of the celestial sphere, the abode of God. The lower ones are a world close to the earth. The central part of the work is written on one side of the panel, and the side parts on both.

The work is devoid of traditional medieval symbols and filled with real content. With the doors closed, on the outside of the altar, the praying customer and his wife are depicted. The poses of the characters are somewhat constrained, but truthful. They knelt before the sculptures of the prophet John the Baptist and the Evangelist John the Theologian.
The presence of the artist’s contemporaries in the picture made it possible to connect the real world with the world painted by the master.

Ghent Altarpiece by Jan van Eyck is the greatest work of Western European painting

The scene of the Annunciation is presented in the middle row. Between the images of the Mother of God and the Archangel Gabriel there is a window through which the city is viewed. In the top row, the author depicted the Old Testament prophets. The multi-figure composition is divided into four parts, but harmoniously forms a single whole.

When the sashes are open, the side compositions complement the central one. The plot of worship of the sacrificial lamb, symbolizing Jesus Christ, is taken as a semantic basis. A dove hovering over it is a type of the Holy Spirit. Left and right are the pious righteous and saints. A beautiful city rises in the background – this is the Heavenly Jerusalem. However, the architectural features of the city show similarities with the buildings of Cologne and Bruges.

In the upper part, the viewer sees a composition that resembles a rich Deesis. The central figure shows majesty and serenity. God is seated in the purple robe of a high priest. On his chest is written “Sabaoth”, which means the name of God the Creator. Triple papal tiara, scepter – signs of the highest power. God the Father, God the Son, the Holy Spirit are depicted on the throne. This is the embodiment of the Christian doctrine of the three Persons of the essentially one God.

To the left of the Almighty, the Virgin Mary is depicted in the image of the Queen of Heaven. On the right, in a luxurious cloak, John the Baptist is sitting. Angels are wingless. On the sides, the upper part of the altar is closed by the figures of Adam and Eve.

Name of the painting: “Ghent Altarpiece” (Nider. Het Lam Gods).
Author: Jan van Eyck (1385 or 1390 – 1441).
Year of writing: 1432
Size: 375 x 520 cm.
Style: Renaissance.
Genre: Religious.
Technique: Oil painting.
Material: Wood.
Location: Cathedral of St. Beauvon, Ghent, Belgium.

Jan van Eyck is a magnificent artist of the 15th century, a master of complex compositions on religious themes.

The genius was one of the first to master the technique of painting with oil-based pigments. Experimenting with dyes, he creates in the technique of glazing. As a result, the depicted objects were endowed with a special property. They seemed to glow from within.

The artist captured the grandeur and complexity of the world order, the connection of all objects and phenomena. The author was particularly meticulous. More than 30 species of various plants are carefully inscribed on the altar. Light reflections on precious stones and fountains are drawn with reliable accuracy.

In the course of restoration in 1823, plaques with the names of the authors were found on the reverse sides of the panels. Thus, the previously unknown master Hubert van Eyck appeared before world art. Maybe it’s an alias. The ancient artifact was repeatedly stolen, resold and tried to destroy, but it was miraculously preserved.