Search engine for discovering works of Art, research articles, and books related to Art and Culture
Javascript must be enabled to continue!
The Ghent Altarpiece
View through Europeana Collections
The altarpiece used only to be opened on feast-days. For the rest of the time, the wings were closed, so that all that could be seen was the Annunciation. the colours of the open painting are deliberately brighter and more festive than those of the closed shutters. The viewer's full attention is drawn to the large centre panel, in which a divine liturgy is performed around the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, in a green landscape with a high horizon. an altar stands in the middle on a small green mound, possibly representing Mount Zion. the Lamb stands erect on the altar - alive but bleeding from a wound. It's blood spurts out into a chalice. The allusion is clear - Christ's death and ressurection - his sacrifice for humanity - are commemorated on the altar during every Mass. the scene as a whole referst to the Last supper when Jesus described the wine as his blood, which he was to shed for all humanity to earn the forgiveness of its sins.
Saint Bavo Cathedral, Ghent
Title: The Ghent Altarpiece
Description:
The altarpiece used only to be opened on feast-days.
For the rest of the time, the wings were closed, so that all that could be seen was the Annunciation.
the colours of the open painting are deliberately brighter and more festive than those of the closed shutters.
The viewer's full attention is drawn to the large centre panel, in which a divine liturgy is performed around the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, in a green landscape with a high horizon.
an altar stands in the middle on a small green mound, possibly representing Mount Zion.
the Lamb stands erect on the altar - alive but bleeding from a wound.
It's blood spurts out into a chalice.
The allusion is clear - Christ's death and ressurection - his sacrifice for humanity - are commemorated on the altar during every Mass.
the scene as a whole referst to the Last supper when Jesus described the wine as his blood, which he was to shed for all humanity to earn the forgiveness of its sins.
Related Results
The Assumption of the Virgin
The Assumption of the Virgin
During the 15th century Johann Koerbecke was the most important artist in the Westphalian city of Munster. He trained in the workshop of his father, Hermann Koerbecke, and took ove...
St. Catherine before the Pope at Avignon
St. Catherine before the Pope at Avignon
Saint Catherine, who was canonised in 1461 by Pope Pius II, was born in Siena around 1347. Despite the opposition of her family, who wished her to marry and form a family, she ente...
Saint Catherine
Saint Catherine
Together with Cosmè Tura and Ercole de’Roberti (also represented in this Collection), Francesco del Cossa was the most important artist in Ferrara and Bologna in the second half of...
Saint Claire
Saint Claire
Together with Cosmè Tura and Ercole de’Roberti (also represented in this Collection), Francesco del Cossa was the most important artist in Ferrara and Bologna in the second half of...
Saint Roch as Patron of Plague Victims
Saint Roch as Patron of Plague Victims
This panel relates to a work of the same subject commissioned from Rubens by the Confraternity of Saint Roch in Aalst. The commission was for a painting for an altarpiece dedicated...
Altarpiece with the Virgin and Child Enthroned between Saint Jerome and Saint Nicholas of Myra
Altarpiece with the Virgin and Child Enthroned between Saint Jerome and Saint Nicholas of Myra
This altarpiece was made in the then modern Renaissance style. The form and motifs of the mould-ings derive from Classical Roman architecture. The material was also modern: tin-gla...
Town Hall, Ghent
Town Hall, Ghent
Inscriptions and textual elements: W.H. Bartlett. Inscriptions and textual elements: A.H. Payne. Inscriptions and textual elements: TOWN HALL, GHENT. Inscriptions and textual eleme...
Byloke, Ghent
Byloke, Ghent
Hand-colored lithograph, Picturesque Architecture in Paris Ghent Antwerp Rouen etc....