The restoration of the Ghent Altarpiece
Lucasweb-2.be_crop480x192_tcm13-5679.jpg "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb - Jan Van Eyck - ©Lucasweb.be, http://www.lukasweb.be/en/photo/the-ghent-altarpiece-open-152")
Jan van Eyck’s most famous creation is the Ghent Altarpiece ‘Adoration of the Mystic Lamb’, made for Saint Bavo’s Cathedral in Ghent. Since its first viewing in 1432, the magnificent altarpiece is considered one of the world’s finest art treasures. Unfortunately, it has been the victim of thirteen crimes and seven thefts since its installation. The last piece panel is still missing, but the search is still on.
Since October 2012, Bart Devolder has coordinated the restoration project at the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage. It is estimated that the restoration will be complete and put back in its original place on display in Saint Bavo’s Cathedral in 2020. Until then, you can visit the Museum of Fine Arts (MSK) in Ghent where the altarpiece is being restored. You’ll gain an excellent insight into the restoration work.
An exhibition on the work’s rich history, spanning almost six centuries, can be viewed at Ghent’s Caermersklooster (an old convent) for the duration of the restoration period. The exhibition is called ‘The Ghent Altarpiece Revealed’. It will be supplemented with temporary exhibits focusing on specific themes, such as the origin of the wooden panels and the iconography of the work.
An exhibition on the work’s rich history, spanning almost six centuries, can be viewed at Ghent’s Caermersklooster (an old convent) for the duration of the restoration period. The exhibition is called ‘The Ghent Altarpiece Revealed’. It will be supplemented with temporary exhibits focusing on specific themes, such as the origin of the wooden panels and the iconography of the work.