Jan van Eyck is famous for mastering the technique of oil painting and his meticulously detailed style inspired many other artists, during his own lifetime as well as during later centuries. One of the best examples of his particular style, often described as exhibiting a “microscopic-telescopic vision,” is the Altarpiece of the Lamb or Ghent Altarpiece produced by Jan and his brother Hubert. This monumental polyptych is typical of the large-scale public altarpieces commonly found in chapels, which served as backdrops for the Mass. In addition to their ability to awaken devotion, these artworks were also didactic tools and they visually explained some of the complex theological concepts related to the Mass ritual. This work, one of the largest and most admired altarpieces produced in fifteenth-century Flanders, fulfills both of these functions and its sophisticated theological symbolism is characteristic of van Eyck’s works. The entire altarpiece offers an intricate portrayal of the whole Christian cycle, from the Fall to the Redemption. The exterior, which appears when the shutters are closed, depicts the donors in humble prayer before John the Baptist and John the Evangelist in the lowest register, a typical Annunciation scene in the central register, and ancient figures believed to have prophesied of Christ in the uppermost arches. This particular image portrays one of the central panels in the middle register; an interior is displayed that houses the instruments used for the preparation of the Mass. While the basin and towel would have been used for the washing of priests’ hands, their proximity to Mary is significant as they also symbolized her role as a pure vessel to carry the Son of God. Although scholars are not exactly certain which parts Hubert completed, the convincing textures of metal and wood displayed here are typical of Jan van Eyck’s remarkable style. ; exterior approx. 11' 6'' x 7' 6''