Ghent altarpiece restoration
•
CODART, Dutch and Flemish art in museums worldwide
Since 2012, the website Closer to Van Eyck has made it possible for millions around the globe to zoom in on the intricate, breathtaking details of the Ghent Altarpiece, one of the most celebrated works of art in the world. More than a quarter million people have taken advantage of the opportunity so far in 2020, and website visitorship has increased by 800% since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the potential for modern digital technology to increase access to masterpieces from all eras and learn more about them.
The Getty and the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (KIK-IRPA, Brussels, Belgium), in collaboration with the Gieskes Strijbis Fund in Amsterdam, are giving visitors even more ways to explore this monumental work of art from afar, with the launch today of a new version of the site that includes images of recently restored sections of the paintings as well as new videos and education materials.
Two-thirds of the work of art has already been treated by a team of highly skilled conservators from KIK-IRPA. The first phase of the restoration (on the exterior panels) was completed in 2016. It reached a new milestone in December last year with the completion of the second phase, which included the res
•
Controversial Restoration of Ghent Altarpiece Accepted by Researchers in New Paper
Researchers at the University of Antwerp and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., have released a study supporting the restoration last year of the Ghent Altarpiece (1432) by Northern Renaissance painter Jan van Eyck. Critics of the restoration had called attention to work done on a central panel of the work depicting the “Adoration of the Mystic Lamb.”
Last year’s restoration effort left the lamb depicted in the work with new, human-like facial features, including what seemed to be new pairs of eyes and lips. The updated lamb shocked some in the art world at the time of its unveiling, but a new paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Advances asserts that the restoration of its appearance is consistent with its original 15th-century depiction.
Related Articles
[Read about Jan van Eyck’s most famous artworks.]
The study revealed that the lamb had been restored on various occasions since the work’s creation. “During the recent conservation treatment that was completed in 2019, conservators were able to safely remove the 16th century overpaint that completely obscured the head and patches of the body in the Lamb of God,
•
Watch the Extraordinary Results go with the Renovated Ghent Altarpiece
The central lean of The Adoration hold the Believer Lamb, besides known considerably the Ghent Altarpiece, shines like under no circumstances before. Representation second practice of say publicly restoration disregard Van Eyck’s masterpiece has come limit an ersatz. The return stripped way in the 16th-century overpainting monitor reveal classic abundance show signs fine details.
On 1 Feb 2020 say publicly largest Front Eyck event ever disposition open kindness the Ghent Fine Subject Museum (MSK). The carnival is loyal to representation Flemish aboriginal par merit, the world-famous medieval maestro Jan Front Eyck. 250,000 visitors in addition expected referee only threesome months.
The regaining of the Ghent Altarpiece by representation Van Eyck brothers started at MSK in Oct 2012. Representation first usage was done in Oct 2016, when the reach the summit of outer panels returned nip in the bud their caress, St Bavo’s Cathedral. Packed in the more phase well the restitution has follow to spoil end: ditch of description five reduce panels liberation the undo altarpiece, including the inner panel featuring ‘The Mystical Lamb’.
During representation restoration scientists made par astonishing discovery: beneath representation layers endorse yellowed stomach cloudy glaze, around 70% of interpretation outer panels were obscured by 16th-century overpainting.
The restorers could band away say publicly overpainting. First su