'Fat, scholarly, beautifully produced … with outstanding image reproduction' - Financial Times The companion book to the 2020 exhibition of Van Eyck at Museum of Fine Arts Ghent - the largest ever show of his work Flemish painter Jan Van Eyck (c. 1390–1441) towered above his contemporaries. With his unprecedented technique, scientific knowledge and unparalleled powers of observation, Van Eyck lifted oil painting to previously unseen heights and helped determine the course of Western art.In 2020 the Museum of Fine Arts Ghent will host the largest ever exhibition of Van Eyck’s work. An Optical Revolution includes artworks by Van Eyck, several pieces from his studio and international masterpieces from the late Middle Ages, which makes the world of Van Eyck more tangible than ever. This tie-in exhibition catalogue unravels some of the myths that surround Van Eyck and his technique while showing his complete oeuvre and his influence in a new perspective.Central to the exhibition are the eight restored exterior panels of the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, a highly exceptional loan from St Bavo’s Cathedral in Ghent. After the exhibition the panels will return to their original place in the cathedral and never again be shown elsewhere. Including essays by leading experts from around the world, this book will be an indispensable resource for Van Eyck fans and scholars alike. Details Author: Till-Holger Borchert, Chief Curator at the Groeningemuseum in Bruges Hardcover: 490 pages Date published: February 2020 Language: English ISBN: 978-0500023457 Product Dimensions: 33 x 25 cm Reviews 'A truly magnificent celebration of the creativity and skill of the brilliant Flemish artist' - Mature Times'fat, scholarly, beautifully produced with outstanding image reproduction' -Financial Times 'His crystalline panels of saints and burghers are so accomplished they can feel unassailable — and so does this hefty volume, the catalog of the largest Jan Van Eyck show ever staged (at the Museum of Fine Arts in Ghent, Belgium). It concentrates on the altarpiece he and his brother Hubert painted in the 1420-30s, whose recent restoration laid bare the optical innovations that fueled his unprecedented naturalism. Nothing can replace seeing these too-perfect panels in person, but this book, printed by the masters at Die Keure press in Bruges, comes pretty close.' - New York Times 'a wonderfully illustrated book, discussing all aspects of Van Eyck's work and career from technique to reception' - TLS books of the year
