The Altarpiece of Ghent, Hubert Van Eyck, 1430-1432. The Altarpiece was commissioned for Saint Bavo&

The Altarpiece of Ghent, Hubert Van Eyck, 1430-1432.

The Altarpiece was commissioned for Saint Bavo’s Cathedral. It was seized by the Nazis in 1940 while it was traveling through France on its way to safety in the Vatican. The Germans had stolen its panels once before, during the First World War, and were happy to have it back. In an effort to protect it from Allied bombing, it was stored in the Altaussee salt mines, where it was badly damaged by the poor conditions instead.