THE FRONT PANELS
(on weekdays the altarpiece was closed, and these panelsformed the frontside.
The center panels were only exposed onSundays and religious holidays)

Upper part:
Prophets (Zachary, Michea) and Sibyls (of Eritrea, of Cumae) who professed the birth of the saviour.

Lower part:
The angel Gabriel announcing to the Holy Virgin that she will give birth to the saviour. Through the windows building of medieval Gent can be detected. A typical element of early Flemish painting was the fact that divine scenes took place in realistic 15th century gothic settings.

Left and right:
The portraits of Jucocus Vijd and his wife Isabella Borluut, the donators of the altarpiece. Both portraits are very realistic. By incorporating the donators on the painting, Jan van Eyck lets them participate in the 'Adoration of the Lamb'.

Center panels:
the grisailles of Saint John the Baptist (left) and Saint John the Evangelist (right). At the time of the creation of the painting the church was still called 'Saint John's church'. Hence, the inclusion of the two saint John's. The church became 'Saint Bavo Cathedral' in 1559.

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