the Ghent altarpiece revealed !

exhibition
the Ghent altarpiece revealed !
2012–2017
‘from tree trunk
to altarpiece’
10 September 2014–spring 2015
Vrouwebroersstraat 6 (Patershol), 9000 Gent
tel. +32 (0)9 269 29 10
caermersklooster@oost-vlaanderen.be
open from 10 am to 5 pm (last entry at 4.30 pm)
admission 2 euro, combination ticket 12 euro
www.caermersklooster.be | www.facebook.com/caermersklooster
the GHENT
ALTARPIECE
revealed !
Ca e r m e rs kl o o s te r each time a discovery...
Restoration of The Ghent altarpiece
The Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (KIK/IRPA Brussels) is currently restoring the
altarpiece known as The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, painted by the brothers
Van Eyck, at the Ghent Museum of Fine Arts (MSK).
Visit the exhibition, which consists of three parts, documenting ‘the most important
restoration project of this century’, at the Caermersklooster Provincial Cultural Centre.
1. The Ghent altarpiece revealed ! permanent exhibition
Exceptional fragments of film, x-radiographs, drawings, works of art, instruments and
models reveal the “earthly” aspects (wooden support, the way layers of paint structure
are built up, etc.) and the “heavenly” dimension of the polyptych. At the same time,
the “history” and “various studies” devoted to this masterpiece are explained in a way
never seen before. The showstopper of the exhibition is a full-size reconstruction of the
altarpiece, which reveals its underlying and preparatory drawings.
The catalogue The Ghent altarpiece revealed ! can be purchased for 10 euro
2. Watch the restoration of the Ghent altarpiece as it happens !
The Ghent altarpiece revealed !
from tree trunk to altarpiece
Monitoring the restoration of the Ghent altarpiece
Caermersklooster Provincial Culture Centre
Lode Van Pee, conservator
Vrouwebroersstraat 6, 9000 Gent
tel. +32 (0)9 269 29 10
caermersklooster@oost-vlaanderen.be
www.caermersklooster.be
www.facebook.com/caermersklooster
opening times
Daily from 10 am to 5 pm (last entry at 4.30 pm)
closed Mondays, 24, 25, 31/12 and 01/01
admission
2 euro/person
Free for visitors up to age 12/CityCard Ghent/
combination ticket 12 euro, entrance to all 3 locations
(Saint Bavo’s Cathedral, the Museum of Fine Arts
(MSK) and the Caermersklooster)
guided tours available on request from
Gandante
tel. +32 (0)9 375 31 61 +32 (0)479 51 52 42
info@gandante.be - www.gandante.be
Gentse Gidsen
tel.+32 (0)9 233 07 72
info@gentsegidsen.be - www.gentsegidsen.be
Ghent-authentic
tel. +32 (0) 498 10 99 61
info@ghent-authentic.com
www.ghent-authentic.com
Acknowledgements
R.P. Ludo Collin, Prof. Emeritus Anne Van Grevenstein-Krüse, Christina Ceulemans, Dr Annick Born, Prof.
Dr Maximiliaan Martens, Prof.Dr. Ron Spronk, The Getty Foundation and everyone that contributed to the
exhibitions
In partnership with
The Cathedral Wardens, KIK/IRPA Brussels, Ghent Museum of Fine Arts, Ghent University, the Provincial
Heritage Department and Provincial ICT Department
v.u. Jozef Dauwe, Deputy culture, p/a Gouvernementstraat 1, 9000 Ghent
photocredits: KIK/IRPA Brussel, Sint-Baafskathedraal Gent, Lukas - Art in Flanders vzw, photo Hugo Maertens, Dominique Provost, MSK Gent
edition: August 2014
permanent exhibition
Watch the restoration ‘live’ at the Ghent Museum of Fine Arts via webcams. The panels
awaiting restoration can still be seen in their normal setting, in the baptistery at Saint
Bavo’s Cathedral. Exclusive interviews with the restorers will keep you up-to-date with
the latest progress of the restoration.
3. from tree trunk to altarpiece
temporary exhibition
Despite its eventful history, in material terms, the polyptych known as the Ghent
altarpiece by the Van Eyck brothers is generally in a satisfactory state of preservation.
This is partly explained by the care taken when this masterpiece was first created,
which exemplifies the expertise contributed by various tradesmen, including
carpenters.
The exhibition takes visitors back to the origins of the altarpiece, from when the wood
was imported from the Baltic until the panels were created. It also highlights current
research focusing on the panels and frames, as well as the challenges of preserving
and restoring the latter.