books0977:The Virgin Mary ~ one of 24 compartmental scenes on The Ghent Altarpiece or Adoration of t
books0977:The Virgin Mary ~ one of 24 compartmental scenes on The Ghent Altarpiece or Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, a very large (11’ x 15’) and complex Early Flemish polyptych panel painting which is considered to be one of Belgium’s masterpieces and one of the world’s treasures. Saint Bavo Cathedral, Ghent, Belgium.The work was begun by Hubert van Eyck and, upon his death in 1426, it was completed by his brother Jan van Ecyk in 1432.The altarpiece is described as “the most frequently stolen artwork in history,” the object of thirteen crimes over six centuries. During WW I, panels were taken by Germany. As per war reparations in the Versailles Treaty, Germany returned the pilfered panels to help compensate for other German “acts of destruction” during the war. In 1942, Adolf Hitler ordered the altarpiece to be seized. Recovered by the Americans following the war and returned to Belgium. -- source link