The Ghent Altar (detail) 1432

Jan van Eyck created this panel of the Ghent Altarpiece in the 15th century using oil on wood. This imposing figure, likely representing God the Father, invites us to consider the role of religious institutions in shaping social order in the early Renaissance. Van Eyck was working for the Burgundian court, which exerted immense political and cultural influence, and he was a master of the then new medium of oil paint. Notice how the inscription around the throne, and the details of the figure’s garments, create a sense of overwhelming authority. This image is a window into the complex relationship between art, religion, and power in the Flemish region during the Early Renaissance. To understand it fully, scholars consult historical documents, theological treatises, and studies of patronage and artistic practice. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context, and we can better appreciate the artist's intentions.