La "Crucifixion" de Van Eyck et l'étonnante lune du retable de Gand

• Autores: Renzo Leonardi
• Localización: Revue de l'art, ISSN 0035-1326, Nº. 184, 2014, págs. 21-24
• Idioma: francés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Van Eyck's Crucifixion and the astonishing Moon of the Ghent altarpiece.

    The attribution of the New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art Crucifixion to Jan van Eyck has recently been challenged using arguments based on astronomy. In the following article, it is argued that the "realistic" Moon painted in the panel should be considered a detail typical of the style of Jan van Eyck. Another astonishing Moon by this painter can be found in the sky of the Ghent altarpiece panel of the "Knights of Christ". This panel provides one of the first accurately detailed maps of the Moon in the history of astronomy. In it the most important lunar maria are clearly identifiable.

    A realistically painted Moon also appears in two miniatures by the Hand G group. Insofar as these can be attributed to Jan van Eyck and his workshop, the claim can be made that Jan van Eyck accurately portrayed the astronomical aspects of the moon as early as 1420. The question is how and when did Jan van Eyck acquire such a profund knowledge of the Moon's features.

    The details are such as to suggest thst the artist made his observations using some sort of magnifying optical system, however rudimentary.