Ghent Altarpiece Por0nari Altarpiece Detail of Symbolic elements As promised here is the informa6on on the two altarpieces we talked about last class. Note: As students at UM you have access to ArtStor an image database that allows you to zoom in on different parts of the piece so you can see the details more clearly. ArtStor can be accessed via the library catalog and if you use it while on campus you don’t need to log in.
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• Top por6on from leC to right van Eyck depicts
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– Adam (the first man) (#1). Over Adam’s head is a grisaille depic6ng the Offering of Cain an Able. – Musical Angels (#2) – The Virgin Mary (#3) – God the Father (also some6mes iden6fied as Christ) (#4). The headdress on Christ/God’s head is a Papal 6ara this is a symbol of the highest religious authority. The crystal scepter in His hand and the gold crown at His feet are symbols of the highest civil authority – John the Bap6st (#5) – Musical Angels (#6) – Eve (the first woman) (#7). The grisaille over Eve’s head depicts Cain’s murder of Able (the first murder). The boZom por6on – The buildings in the background are meant to represent Heavenly Jerusalem – The rough paths leading to the meadow are filled figures including the Warriors of Christ, Saints, Martyrs, and Sainted Virgins • The large figure in red in the lower far right panel is St. Christopher, patron saint of travelers
– All the figures are heading toward the Lamb of God placed on an altar; the Dove of the Holy Spirit hovers above the Lamb
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• Blood flows from the Lamb’s chest into a chalice; this symbolizes Christ’s sacrifice for the redemp6on of man
The significance of the Lamb: It is an ancient symbol of a sacrificial animal and occurs frequently in the Old Testament, it is the Jewish sacrifice eaten at the Passover before the Jewish people escaped from Egypt. Lamb’s blood was put on the Israelites’ doors to protect the first born of the families. The use of the lamb in Chris6anity has its basis in these Jewish beliefs. It became an ideal symbols for Early Chris6ans to represent Christ and His sacrifices to save mankind. The Agnus Dei (lamb of God) iden6fied because he has a wound on his chest and blood pours into the chalice, symbolizes the crucified Christ and the Eucharist. Depending on the composi6on the lamb takes on different meanings, but in general it represents innocence, purity, and a sacrificial vic6m.
• The hidden symbolism in the vases, flowers, and wheat in the foreground of the central panel
– The vine‐scroll paZern on the first vase references Wine which becomes the blood of Christ and thus it recalls the sacrament of Communion • The white flowers are irises and symbolize Christ’s purity • The purple flower is also an iris and symbolizes His royalty • The red flower is a lily and symbolizes His passion
– The glass vessel, which allows light to pass through without breaking is a reference to the Incarna6on, when Mary was impregnated by God’s divine light and thus became God’s vessel.
• The 7 blue flowers are columbines and represent Mary’s suffering • The 3 red flowers are carna6ons symbolizing pure love. The Dutch call them “nail flowers” so they also may reference the 3 nails of the cross • The petals scaZered on the ground are violets and represent humility
– The sheaf of wheat behind the flowers, reference the loca6on of the event, Bethlehem, which in Hebrew means “house of bread.” The wheat also references the sacrament of Communion symbolizing the breach which becomes the body of Christ.