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Exhibition on the flora on the Ghent Altarpiece

The focus of the exhibition A miraculous garden at the Caermersklooster is on the flora on the Ghent Altarpiece by the brothers Van Eyck. The central panel is sumptuously decorated with plants and flowers. Visitors are struck by the diversity and realism, with which the Van Eyck brothers painted this flora and fauna.

But the artists did not limit themselves to the unity of time and space. Spring flowers can be seen alongside summer plants, while Mediterranean flora like citrus fruits, cypresses and palms are combined with plants from northern Europe.

Do these flowers and plants also have a symbolic meaning? Where did the Van Eyck brothers pick up their knowledge of botany? Exactly which kinds of flowers and plants are depicted and what purpose did they serve in the days of the Van Eycks? Some light will be shed on this and other questions in this temporary exhibition.

Especially for this exhibition, one of the gardens of the Caermersklooster is decorated with flowers and plants depicted in the Mystic Lamb. The design and the choice of plants have been made by the curator of the Botanical Garden of the Ghent University.

Exhibition A miraculous garden - Flora on the Ghent Altarpiece
Through September 18
Provinciaal Cultuurcentrum Caermersklooster
Vrouwebroersstraat 6 (Patershol)
9000 Ghent
Website Caermersklooster

(News item April 22, 2016)