Jan Van Eyck, The Ghent Altarpiece, 1432

Mini intro

Date: 1432

Artist: Jan and Hubert Van Eyck

Medium: oil and tempera on wood panel

Style: Early Northern Renaissance

Location: Saint Bavo Cathedral

Size: 11×15 feet

Composition (1)

Top tier, Father/the son is centrally and vertically aligned with Jesus as the lamb below and holy spirit shown as the sun, referencing holy trinity

Top tier (9)

Christ highest and most central of entire composition of altar and larger than other figures - hierarchy of scale

Christ seated on throne full frontal gazing direct at viewer

Nimbus Halo on God - supreme importance

Hands raised in blessing - saviour of mankind

Only figure to be full-frontal in body and face poses - omnipotence and omniscience of God

Papal Crown - God the father but youthful facial features - Christ the Son

Panels flanked by choirs of heavenly angels, nearly life-size depictions of Adam and Eve (mention of original sin)

Adam looks gaunt, sickly, pale but naturalistic

Eve in Northern ideal of beauty as her belly is too low to be pregnant

Bottom tier (6)

From left, Just Judges in opulent finery and Soldiers of Christ on horseback with elaborate armour and swords of Justice enter scene

In background of central panel on direct alignment with fountain is an altar with a lamb standing on it (Christ as the Lamb of God)

Direct gaze of lamb and nimbus halo suggest he is God/christ

Symbols of passion present (spear, crucifix, vinegar, wreath of thorns)

angels in front of altar swing censors with incense - sacrament of the eucharist

Lamb bleeds from wound in side - stream of blood flows directly into chalice on altar cloth