Ghent Altarpiece - Exterior Panels

Exterior Panels

The main register panels show the Annunciation to Mary across four panels. The two outer panels show the Archangel Gabriel and Mary in what appears to be opposite ends of the same room, with two views of the same interior space as the center panels. The saints are outsized in comparison to the scale of the room, perhaps a concession to the conventions of the international gothic, or more likely a device to convey that they are heavenly apparations, as seen later in van Eyck's c. 1424-29 Madonna in the Church. The two unoccupied panels show open windows, through which can be seen a city scape, To the left we see the message of Gabriel, to the right the answer given by Mary. The words read Ave gracia plena d(omi)n(u)s tecu(m) (Hail, thou who art full of grace, the Lord is with you). Mary answears, Ecce ancillam d(omi)ni (Behold the handmaiden of the Lord).

As in van Eyck's Washington Annunciation Mary's reply is written upside-down as if for God to read from heaven. There has been speculation as to whether the view from the round arched windows was the view from van Eyck's workplace in Ghent; this could give us an idea where van Eyck lived or worked.

In comparison to the inner panels, these four ancillary panels are depicted with reserve and sparseness. The areas depicted are confined and cramp the figures, the settings are earthly, pared down and simple. In these works especially, lighting is used to great effect to create an illusion of depth and make the viewer feel as if the pictorial space is influenced by the light from the chapel in which he stands.

Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist are positioned between the donors as statues on plinths, painted in grisaille. In the top register, the prophets Zaccariah and Micah look down from lunettes on the fulfillment of their prophecies, which are contained in Banderoles floating behind them. Between them are two sibyls, whose prophecies were also thought to have foretold the coming of Christ.