In 2020, the Museum of Fine Arts (MSK) in Ghent pays tribute to Jan van Eyck (ca. 1390-1441) with the exhibition ‘Van Eyck. An optical revolution’. Worldwide only approximately twenty works by this artist have been preserved. On this exceptional occasion, more than half of these will travel to Ghent, where they will be shown alongside works by his most talented peers.

This exhibition also offers a unique understanding of the Low Countries in the late Middle Ages as a creative breeding ground for artists and craftsmen. Immerse yourself in the rich court life of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, and the dynamic city culture where Van Eyck lived and worked as an artist, advisor and diplomat. Paintings, sculptures, drawings, tapestries and miniatures created by his contemporaries from Western Europe and Italy illustrate the refined aesthetic feeling and cultural richness of that era.

The stupendous restoration of the altarpiece, and the magnificent exhibition nearby, confirm Van Eyck as a painting colossus. Get yourself to Ghent!
The Guardian

"Van Eyck. An optical revolution" from the comfort of your home

Due to the corona measures, the doors of the top exhibition "Van Eyck. An optical revolution" unfortunately remain closed. However the Museum of Fine Arts brings the Flemish Master to your living room.

Through a virtual live tour, art lovers all over the world now have the opportunity to enjoy Jan Van Eyck's unique collection of masterpieces free of charge. Van Eyck expert and co-curator Till-Holger Borchert guides viewers through this unique virtual tour. 

Listen to the audio guide

The exhibition visit also included an extensive audio guide. At the moment the museum closed it's doors, but we would like to make the audio guide available online. Listen to the story of Jan van Eyck and his time, and get a lot of information about a whole series of works of art. Each stop is also written out in full text.

Between the court and the city

Jan van Eyck was court painter for Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy (1396-1467). The flamboyant duke and his entourage surrounded themselves with the best artists. At the same time, the Flemish cities of Ghent and Bruges were prospering as trading centres. Wealthy merchants and politicians mirrored the pomp and circumstance of the courts and were in turn buyers of luxury goods. This was Jan van Eyck’s creative environment, between the court and the city, between art and métier.

The pinnacle of Late Mediaeval art

Van Eyck stood out from his peers and brought about an optical revolution. With his unequalled technique and observational skills, he elevated oil painting to new heights and shaped the course of fine arts. His absolute masterpiece is ‘The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb’ (St Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent), commissioned by Joos Vijd, Alderman of Ghent, which he completed in 1432 after the death of his brother Hubert Van Eyck.

Centrepieces of this exhibition are the restored outer panels of ‘The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb’, part of the campaign which the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (KIK/IRPA) started in the MSK in 2012. Visitors will be able to marvel close-up at the spectacular result of the restoration, and witness the panels in direct dialogue with Van Eyck’s other works of art. This provides the opportunity to re-evaluate his art and its historical context.

In dialogue with Van Eycks’ peers

To make Van Eyck’s optical revolution come to life, his paintings will furthermore be exhibited next to works by his most talented peers from Germany, France, Italy and Spain. They too moved in exalted circles and received prestigious commissions. By presenting these pieces alongside one another, the Ghent exhibition zooms in on their artistic differences and similarities.

‘Van Eyck. An optical revolution’ unravels the myths surrounding the artist and puts his technique, work and influences in a new perspective. This exhibition will awaken a sense of wonder among visitors, comparable to that which people would have felt when they saw his works for the first time: a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Are you still hesitant to discover the world of Van Eyck? Here are 7 reasons why you should not miss the exhibition 'Van Eyck. An optical revolution'.