Scene
The polyptych features an exterior Annunciation scene and an interior vision of salvation history. When opened, panels reveal a continuous heavenly landscape with a central altar.
Ghent Altarpiece
Jan van Eyck
1432
Figures
Key figures include the enthroned Christ, the Virgin Mary, John the Baptist, Adam and Eve, and angelic musicians. Groups of saints, martyrs, and prophets gather around the central altar.
Symbolism
The Mystic Lamb on the altar symbolizes Christ’s sacrificial death and the Eucharist. The Fountain of Life suggests eternal grace, while Adam and Eve represent the Fall.
Craft
Van Eyck used refined oil painting to achieve intense luminosity and subtle modeling. Illusionistic architecture casts shadows that match the actual light in the chapel.
Impact
Often cited as the first major oil painting, it is a cornerstone of Northern Renaissance art. Artists like Albrecht Dürer traveled to study its innovations.
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