A modest, young Madonna the Mother of God sits at the right hand of the mysterious figure in the centre (the viewers left). Her serene face looks out from ...

How the first painter of the northern Renaissance influenced all that came after him

Download this stock image: Jan van Eyck - The Ghent Altarpiece - Adoration of the Lamb (detail) - WGA07660 - HM2CEB from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors.

The animal's soul-penetrating gaze was painted over by a second set of artists in 1550 and spent the next five centuries under wraps

Masterpiece painted in 1432 in St Bavo’s Cathedral in Ghent reopens with display case described as ‘perfect’

Jan van Eyck was a Flemish painter active in Bruges. He is one of the early innovators of what became known as Early Netherlandish painting, and one of the most significant representatives of Early Northern Renaissance art.

Discover key locations in the history of the Ghent Altarpiece, one of the world's most important artworks and the most frequently stolen in history.

"The Ghent Altarpiece" or "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb" -- Center Panel Detail -- 1 of 24 compartmental scenes -- 1430-32 -- Hubert & Jan Van Eyck -- Flemish -- Polyptych -- Oil on wood -- Saint Bavo Cathedral, Ghent, Belgium.

Ghent Altarpiece (detail, left), early 15th century by Jan Van Eyck. To create the realistic jewels on this brooch Van Eyck used highlight and shadow to give a depth and transparency especially to the beautiful blue gem (possibly sapphire).