World Culture: The largest exhibition of works by the Flemish master "Van Eyck. An Optical Revolution" to open in Belgium

The exhibition "Van Eyck. An Optical Revolution" is the largest exposition of works by an outstanding Flemish master in history. It will be opened on February 1, 2020, at the Ghent Museum of Fine Arts (Belgium). It will feature at least half of the artist’s preserved works.

For the first time, so many works by Jan Van Eyck are collected in one place. It had not happened even after the death of the artist. Paintings, miniatures, sculptures, and drawings from the Vatican, Prado, Getty museums, the Berlin Art Gallery and Washington Art Gallery arrived in Ghent for three months.

“This is Van Eyck’s largest exhibition in history. We present the works, both made by the artist and his followers. And the most important thing is that here you can see them in dialogue with Van Eyck’s masterpiece “The Ghent Altar”, noted exhibition curator Frederick Van Dam.

The altar, which was begun to be painted by the elder brother and teacher of the artist, Hubert Van Eyck, and completed by Jan, occupies a central place in the exhibition. It was carried from the Cathedral of Saint Bavon. Curators say this is the last time when the masterpiece leaves the church. After the exhibition, it will be returned to the temple forever.