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GENERAL
Ghent (Home)
Introducing
Ghent
History
SIGHTSEEING
Medieval Ghent
Museums
The Mystic Lamb
USEFUL INFO
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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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