Brussels choice art

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 I am choosing to write about the Ghent Altarpiece for my Brussels art! I was really impressed by this painting when I saw it. It was a lot bigger than I was expecting it to be and the amount of detail in each panel is amazing. I really liked how each panel had a different scene or person on it, but that all together it came to make one story and it still felt cohesive. The bottom middle panel was my favorite because it has the mystic lamb and the detail on all the people in it is impressive, even though they are smaller they still have clear facial expressions and their clothes are detailed too. It was also interesting to be able to see the back of the panels and I love that one of them has the man who commissioned the piece. 


I think that the Ghent Altarpiece is important historically because it has a very complicated story and is a part of the paintings that were stolen by the nazis and then found by the monument's men. It is also a very unique painting because it is painted on these panels and it was usually closed except for special occasions when they would open it all the way up for people to see. This painting also is one of the first new realism paintings compared to other Renaissance art at the time and it really changed the standard of European art. 


The Ghent Altarpiece is very important for Belgium as a cultural capital because it is considered a masterpiece so lots of people visit Beligium in order to see it. It has also inspired other artists and scholars and its story has been told in movies like The Monuments Men. Other artists can also come and study the Altarpiece to draw inspiration from. The Altarpiece can also serve as a reminder of Ghent's heritage and artistic movements. It shows that Ghent is committed to preserving their culture and history and they want to be able to display it for others to learn from and see.

Comments

  1. EleaseMay 9, 2024 at 3:26 PM

    I love this post! I think you can use this post to help show the different art that makes up the city. Especially with how much art comparatively in other countries. This can show the culture that comes from Belgium using the art.


    I love that you talk about how the city uses the Ghent altarpiece as a tourist attraction. As well as mentioning the altarpiece as something that other artists can draw from for inspiration.

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  2. SatchelJune 21, 2024 at 1:44 AM

    Really great post Betsy! The Ghent Altarpiece is so interesting as it was one of the first great oil paintings. It is still one of the best today. It adds to Ghent's culture because it is a true masterpiece by one of history's greatest artists, Jan van Eyck. We are all happy that it was recovered and that Ghent keeps it safe and restored.

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