The Ghent Altarpiece (wings open) Jan van Eyck (1385/90-1441)

The painting is The Ghent Altarpiece (wings open) by Hubert and Jan van Eyck. It is a polyptych, meaning it is made of several panels.

What I see:

The altarpiece is divided into two main registers.

Upper Register:

• Central Panel: A majestic enthroned figure of God the Father (or Christ in majesty) dressed in rich red robes, wearing a papal tiara and holding a staff. He is blessing the viewer with his right hand. Rays of light emanate from behind him.
• Left Panel of Central Panel: The Virgin Mary is seated, crowned and reading a book. She is dressed in a rich blue robe.
• Right Panel of Central Panel: John the Baptist is seated, dressed in a green robe and holding a book. He has a long beard.
• Outer Left Panel: A nude figure of Adam.
• Outer Right Panel: A nude figure of Eve.
• Panels between Adam/Eve and the central figures:
  • Below Adam: A panel with singing angels.
  • Below Eve: A panel with a figure playing an organ and angels singing.

Lower Register:

• Central Panel: Depicts the Adoration of the Lamb. A lamb, symbolizing Jesus Christ, stands on an altar in the center of a lush landscape. Blood flows from the lambs wound into a chalice. A fountain of life is in the foreground. Around the altar are kneeling figures of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (implied by the symbols), the resurrected, and apostles, bishops, martyrs, and virgins from different eras. The scene is set with a detailed landscape and architectural elements in the background, and a rainbow arcs overhead.
• Left Panels (two small panels):
  • The Just Judges, led by a knight on horseback.
  • The Soldiers of Christ, also led by a knight on horseback.
• Right Panels (two small panels):
  • Reforming Knights.
  • Hermits.

The overall impression is one of immense detail, vibrant color, and complex theological narrative.

Subtexts:

• Theological Narrative: The altarpiece is a comprehensive visual sermon on salvation history. The upper register presents the divine Trinity and the key figures of Christian tradition (Mary, John the Baptist). The lower register illustrates humanitys redemption through the sacrifice of Christ (the Lamb) and the gathering of the faithful from all walks of life, emphasizing the universality of salvation.
• The Incarnation and Sacrifice: The central theme is Christs sacrifice for humanitys sins. The blood flowing from the lamb into the chalice is a direct reference to the Eucharist and the redemption offered by his sacrifice.
• Humanitys Fall and Redemption: The presence of Adam and Eve in the outer panels signifies the Original Sin that necessitates Christs sacrifice. Their nude portrayals suggest their vulnerability and the state of humanity before and after redemption.
• The Church Militant and Triumphant: The figures in the lower register represent the various parts of the Church: the martyrs, the confessors, the virgins, and the faithful, illustrating the universal call to worship. The groups of knights and hermits on the sides might also symbolize the earthly struggle of faith and individual devotion.
• Divine Order and Harmony: The meticulously rendered landscape, the detailed figures, and the overall composition suggest a divinely ordered universe. The light emanating from God and the celestial elements like the rainbow contribute to this sense of divine presence and order.
• Realism and Divine Revelation: Jan van Eycks mastery of oil painting allows for an unprecedented level of naturalism. The altarpiece bridges the earthly and the divine by depicting biblical scenes and figures with astonishing realism, making the divine feel tangible and accessible.
• The Eucharist: The lamb and the altar strongly point to the significance of the Eucharist as a central sacrament for believers.
• Textual and Visual Learning: The inclusion of figures reading books and celestial inscriptions highlights the importance of scripture and divine revelation in understanding faith.

In essence, The Ghent Altarpiece is a masterpiece of Northern Renaissance art that functions as a profound theological statement, visually articulating Christian doctrine concerning creation, fall, redemption, and the ultimate communion of saints.