Facts about Ghent Altarpiece Restoration
- 05
A key finding of the Ghent Altarpiece restoration was that the Lamb of God's face had been overpainted, revealing a more naturalistic and striking original depiction beneath.
- 04
Launched in 2012, the ongoing Ghent Altarpiece restoration project is carried out in phases by the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage in Belgium.
- 03
Conservators working on the Ghent Altarpiece restoration used macro X-ray fluorescence scanning to reveal hidden underdrawings and original paint layers beneath centuries of grime and overpainting.
- 02
During the Ghent Altarpiece restoration, conservators discovered the original Just Judges panel remains missing, replaced by a 1945 copy painted by Jef Van der Veken.
- 01
The Ghent Altarpiece restoration by the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage revealed that later overpaintings had significantly altered the original appearance of the panels.