A painting for All Saints Day

Trying to find a suitable artwork to share for All Saints was not easy. Durer’s Asoration of the Trinity  certainly includes a lot of saints but it is more an image of the Church Trumphant and Militant in adoration rather than just a celebration of those whose reward has been gained and is assured.

I then turned to the can Eyck Adoration of the Lamb. As I read the article on Wikipedia I saw the idea advanced that the composition references the liturgy for All Saints, and that decided me to share the article. It is lengthy and quite detailed both in analysing the painting but also in recounting its misadventures over almost six centuries. It is a wonder that we still have it.

The scale of the work means that only small portions make it to the article, but there is sufficient to indicate the microscopic detail and skill in its creation. It is justly esteemed as one of the truly great works of European painting

The article can be seen at Ghent Altarpiece

The Adoration of the Lamb

Paul Chandler O.Carm. sent a post to the Medieval Religion discussion group drawing attention to a new website about the Ghent altarpiece painted by Hubert and Jan van Eyck.

The Ghent Altarpiece on display

The altarpiece with the wings closed

Images: Wikipedia

Paul wrote as follows:

This new website on the Ghent Altarpiece is truly astonishing: ttp://closertovaneyck.kikirpa.be/

"It is now possible to zoom into the intricate, breathtaking details of one of the most important works of art from the medieval world, thanks to a newly completed website focused on the Ghent Altarpiece.

A stunning and highly complex painting composed of separate oak panels, The Mystic Lamb of 1432 by Hubert and Jan van Eyck, known as the Ghent Altarpiece, recently underwent much-needed emergency conservation within the Villa Chapel in St. Bavo Cathedral in Ghent. As part of this work, the altarpiece was removed from its glass enclosure and temporarily dismantled—a rare event which also made it possible to undertake a comprehensive examination and documentation, supported by the Getty Foundation in Los Angeles.

Each centimetre of the altarpiece was scrutinized and professionally photographed at extremely high resolution in both regular and infrared light. The photographs were then digitally “stitched” together to create highly detailed images which allow for study of the painting at unprecedented microscopic levels. The website itself contains 100 billion pixels."

From medievalists.net; http://www.medievalists.net/2012/02/27/the-ghent-altarpiece-in-100-billion-pixels/

There is a complete illustrated online catalogue of Jan van Eyck's work here.