For one of the biggest unsolved art thefts, visit Ghent

We had very little time as our trip to Belgium was a very short one. To stop or not to stop at Ghent was the big question. Since it is mid-way between Bruges and Brussels we decided to make a quick stop at the St.  Bavo’s Cathedral. I was so eager to see the ‘Adoration of the Mystic Lamb’ by Jan Van Eyck since the time I had seen the movie ‘Monuments Men’. It is the first greatest oil painting.  I had already seen a few works on Jan Van Eyck in the Groeninge Museum in Bruges and was very impressed with the detail. The beauty of Flemish art lies in its detail and the tiny brush strokes. The ‘Adoration of the Mystic Lamb’ is a spectacular oil painting depicting the ‘A to Z’ of Christianity. It is very much in the league of David, Mona Lisa, Sistine Chapel, La Primavera, Birth of venus and other italian masterpieces.  There is a 45 minute tour which explains you everything about the painting so it wouldn’t make sense for me to explain the painting here. However, there are many fascinating stories associated with the ‘Adoration of the Mystic Lamb’

 

·         It is regarded as one of the most important paintings in history

·         It is one of the most stolen art pieces. It was stolen seven separate times.

·         A part of the painting ‘Just Judges’ is still stolen and what you see in the St. Bavo Cathedral is a duplicate. I have highlighted the part that is a duplicate in blue and red stars.

·         The piece remains stolen for over 80 years now and till date a detective from the Ghent Police works on this case.

·         Hitler was obsessed about this altar piece and stole it during World War II. It was later recovered in a salt mine in Germany by the Monuments Men along with Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child.

·         The last thing heard about the missing panel was that it rests in a place where no one can take it away without arousing the attention of the public.
 

There is a book about this as well called 'Stealing of the Mystic Lamb'. It is on my reading list. Who would think that you would get to learn about an art heist while traveling? Can't wait to know what story my next travel destination unravels.