Flemish painter Jan Van Eyck (c. 1390-1441) towered above his contemporaries. With his unprecedented technique, scientific knowledge and unparalleled powers of observation, Van Eyck lifted oil painting to previously unseen heights and helped determine the course of Western art.     

In 2020 the Museum of Fine Arts Ghent hosted the largest ever exhibition of Van Eyck’s work. An Optical Revolution included artworks by Van Eyck, several pieces from his studio and international masterpieces from the late Middle Ages, which made the world of Van Eyck more tangible than ever. This tie-in exhibition catalogue unravels some of the myths that surround Van Eyck and his technique while showing his complete oeuvre and his influence in a new perspective. Central to the exhibition were the eight restored exterior panels of the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, a highly exceptional loan from St Bavo’s Cathedral in Ghent. 

Including essays by leading experts from around the world, this book will be an indispensable resource for Van Eyck fans and scholars alike.