More than 80 years later, the panel has yet to turn up. Perhaps the most stolen painting in existence, it's been the victim of a half-dozen art thefts - even Hitler claimed it as war booty. It's a miracle the Ghent Altarpiece has survived for six centuries. It challenges visitors with its complex symbolism, multitude of rich details, and sheer scale, but it rewards those willing to invest the time to take it all in. Its central panel shows pilgrims gathered to honor to the Lamb of God (representing Jesus), while other panels depict the Annunciation, Adam and Eve, the Virgin Mary, and John the Baptist. The work is monumental: 15 feet wide and 11 feet tall, composed of a dozen separate panels, depicting hundreds of figures, and weighing more than a ton. Hubert began the painting, but after his death, his better-known younger brother Jan picked up the brush and completed his vision in 1432, taking a colossal stride in Northern European art from medieval stiffness to Renaissance humanism. It was the first masterpiece done in the new medium of oil, and the first to portray the stark realism of the everyday world. Jan and Hubert van Eyck's work has been called the most influential painting in European art. This vast Gothic oyster houses the pearl of Flemish painting - the Ghent Altarpiece, also known as the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. Bavo's Square and Ghent's top sight - St. Visitors enjoy ascending the Belfry for a decent, if not stunning, view over town. Although most of the tower has stood here since the 14th century, a Neo-Gothic top spire was added when Ghent proudly hosted a World's Fair in 1913. While many residents embrace the market hall, some find its modern style jarring (it's been called the "Sheep Shed" and the "Hall of Shame"). Now, there's a new public square, partially sheltered by a modern twin-gabled roof meant to evoke the rooftops of medieval Ghent. Just a few years ago, the space where it stands was no more than an ugly parking lot. Beyond a medieval church stands the big, wooden roof of the market hall. Lining the embankment are several ornately decorated guild houses - meeting halls for the town's boatmen, grain traders, and weighers. The waterway underfoot - now plied by tourist-laden boats - was the city's busy harbor. Michael's Bridge, which provides Ghent's best 360-degree panorama. With its wealth, Ghent became a proud city of soaring spires. Two-thirds of the city's population were textile workers, making Ghent arguably Europe's first industrial city. By the 14th century, Ghent's population was around 65,000 (north of the Alps, only Paris was larger). We'll start in a square called Korenmarkt (Grain Market), the center of historic Ghent. Ghent is very walkable, so let's stroll through the old town in this very Flemish city, where the native language is Dutch but everyone also speaks English. But while the city has a certain amount of urban grittiness, the heart of Ghent still looks much like it did circa 1500, when this was one of Europe's greatest cities: bristling with skyscraping towers, rich with art, and thronged with upscale citizens. It's a living city, and home to one of Belgium's biggest universities. Once one of Belgium's medieval powerhouses, Ghent - about 30 minutes away from both Brussels and Bruges - has not been preserved in amber.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |