The Ghent Altarpiece boggles the mind

Daniel Mitsui has an intriguing post, Reconstructing Ghent, on his blog. Or, I should say, a particularly intriguing post, since the ones on Byrd, Biblical layout, and Georg Bocskay are as well.

According to James Snyder and Lotte Brand Philip, the altarpiece was 'housed in a huge, tiered tabernacle that resembled a cathedral elevation ... hinged to allow the various panels to move - but such an imposing architectural setting would have displayed the paintings in a more meaningful context of the divine service ... [and the] hinged wings would move back and forth to the accompaniment of music played by a mechanical organ within it.'

If I understand this correctly, as the music accompanying Mass or the Hours played and incense wafted upwards, the hinged covers would open and close. Who needs mere stained glass as a teaching aid, with prayers, preaching, chant, responses, music, bells and perfumed bouquets keeping company with moving pictures?

The mechanical organ (which Philip thinks existed, but Snyder does not) would have been automatic, like a clock chime, and activated by the movement of the wings – that is, every time the wings were opened or closed, they would trigger a few organ pipes, which would play a simple melody.

I assumed that the opening and closing of the wings would occur before any liturgy, so as to have the appropriate pictures displayed. I think this is the usual practice with hinged altarpieses (which are usually open on Sundays and holy days, and other wise closed), but I’m not certain.
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