Van Eyck in Ghent
Altarpiece Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, by Van Eyck / Eijck.
->One of the World’s Must-See Paintings
Van Eyck, God the Father. Seldom depicted in art!
Join me for a great visit to Van Eyck in Ghent. Inside the St Bavo Cathedral we will find the most celebrated altarpiece in the entire world, made in oil paint on wood, crafted by brothers Jan and Hubert van Eyck. In 1920 the elements of this Altarpiece, scattered over the world, were returned here with much national festivity.
I will be your private professore, travelling in by train from Amsterdam, Holland specially for you. Tour by Drs Kees Kaldenbach, a professional Art History scholar with excellent teaching skills. Specialist in Fine art and Design, Architecture and History. VIP entry. Entry best at from 9 or 10AM. I therefore need to spend the night before in a hotel.
The outsize set of the Mystic Lamb by Van Eyck is kept inside the St Bavo Cathedral in Ghent (Gent). It is exhibited in an ultra secure glass box.
Van Eyck, the 4 central panels, returned from Berlin Museum to Ghent in 1920 as result of a clause in the Versailles treaty (see below)
During the last two centuries, parts the work were slowly frittered away. The Adam and Eve, considered too nude for a church, went to the local Art Museum.
The central middle and lower panels were legally sold off to the Museum in Berlin. In 1920, they were returned from Berlin Museum to Ghent as result of a clause in the Versailles treaty (see below).
During the first and second World War, the panels were transported in order to put them in a safe place. The stories read like a James Bond nove.
What we will mainly discuss is the use of oil paint, the technical wizardry by Van Eyck, perspective, the architecture seen, the wooden frame. More complicated is understanding of the meaning of the whole setup and of the details. Many specialists have come to different readings and conclusions.
Please note, this is a high level offer. Practicalities: I live in Amsterdam, Holland and do NOT run a travel agency. I do however provide Fabulous international museum tours. The plan is that you contract me for one or more days as your private ‘Professore’ and offer full transport to that city, plus hotel accommodation in the same place you will stay. We will spend quality time together in mornings and early afternoons.
An internet booking for tickets on a particular date and time are required.
Tour by professional Art History scholar with excellent teaching skills. Specialist in Fine art and Design, Architecture and History. VIP entry.
Drs Kees Kaldenbach: „…he is wildly overqualified to be a guide . That is his secret… Trust me on this.” Gabe. Statement made February, 2017.
Van Eijck, Detail of Adam.
Van Eijck, Detail, detail of God the Father
Van Eijck, all panels, front side.
Van Eijck, Detail, Adam and Eve being restored. The first full-size nudes in Northern Europe.
Sculpture group, honouring Van Eijck, put there for the 1913 World Exhibition.
House on Graslei, before restoration, upgraded for the 1913 World Exhibition. Some say: over-restored. The Wold exhibition .
Graslei today. result of the 1913 World Exhibition architectural makeover.
Neptune at the fish selling place, Municipal architecture by the Castle.
Re-discovery of Flemish Primitive painters. The word Primitive should be understood als “the first” as in Prime. It is not a derogatory term at all.
After the recent restoration. Amazing differences.
Restoration completed. Incredible. The left hand bottom panel is still at large. A theft!
Agreement in Versailles Treaty, 1920: article 247: Germany undertakes to deliver to Belgium, through the Reparation Commission, within six months of the coming into force of the present Treaty, in order to enable Belgium to reconstitute artistic work: The leaves of the triptych of the Mystic Lamb painted by the Van Eyck brothers, formerly in the Church of St. Bavon at Ghent, now in the Berlin Museum.
More visual detail: http://closertovaneyck.kikirpa.be
One of the Must-See-Paintings in the world, Groeninge Museum, Bruges.
Certainly worth a day trip to Bruges!
Business card. Museum visits.
Overview of International tours (outside Holland).