Dr. James Welu. Art History. Overlook Masonic Home. Worcester Art Museum
Two Art History lectures by Jim Welu, Director Emeritus of the Worcester Art Museum, are being presented at the Overlook Masonic Home in Charlton, Massachusetts. The subjects focus on the Monuments Men of World War II and on December 17th, Lady Warwick, who once posed for an elegant portrait by John Singer Sargent now owned by the Worcester Art Museum.
Directed by and starring George Clooney, based on the book by Robert M. Edsel, The Monuments Men (2014) tells the true story of a group of aging museum officials, conservators and art aficionados charged with rescuing art masterpieces from the Nazis during World War II… with Jan van Eyck's Ghent Altarpiece being the main focus of the rescue operation. The real names of the participants were changed so that some liberties could be taken without causing offense. In real life, the group was led by George Stout, a conservator at Harvard University's Fogg Museum, who later went on to become director of the Worcester Art Museum and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Depicting the valiant planning and efforts undertaken in rescuing Europe's great masterpieces from the greedy hands of the Nazis, the film showcases the noble acts of the brave men that risked all to preserve history for future generations. The reproduction art used as props in the film are good by Hollywood standards, and the muted cinematography adds to the 1940's atmosphere. George Clooney does a good job capturing the look and demeanor of George Stout. The cast is thoroughly wonderful, including George Clooney, Matt Damon, John Goodman, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett, Jean Dujardin and Bob Balaban.
George Clooney as George Stout: The Monuments Men
Nazi looting: The Monuments Men
The Ghent Altarpiece by Jan van Eyck: The Monuments Men
Nazi looting: The Monuments Men
George Clooney and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men
Cate Blanchett: The Monuments Men
George Clooney and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men
Bob Balaban and George Clooney: The Monuments Men
Bill Murray, George Clooney and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men
John Goodman: The Monuments Men
John Goodman, Bill Murray, George Clooney and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men
John Goodman, Bill Murray, George Clooney and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men
John Goodman, Bill Murray, George Clooney and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men
George Clooney and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men
Nazi looted art: The Monuments Men
Bill Murray: The Monuments Men
Bill Murray and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men
Matt Damon: The Monuments Men
Matt Damon and Cate Blanchett: The Monuments Men
Bill Murray and Bob Balaban: The Monuments Men
John Goodman and George Clooney: The Monuments Men
Cate Blanchett: The Monuments Men
George Clooney: The Monuments Men
George Clooney: The Monuments Men
Matt Damon: The Monuments Men
Matt Damon and Cate Blanchett: The Monuments Men
: The Monuments Men
Bob Balaban and Bill Murray: The Monuments Men
George Clooney and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men
George Clooney: The Monuments Men
George Clooney: The Monuments Men
John Goodman, Bill Murray, George Clooney and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men
Matt Damon and Cate Blanchett: The Monuments Men
John Goodman, Bill Murray, George Clooney and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men
John Goodman, Bill Murray, George Clooney and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men
Bill Murray and George Clooney: The Monuments Men
John Goodman: The Monuments Men
John Goodman, Bill Murray, George Clooney and Matt Damon: The Monuments Men
The Bruges Madonna by Michelangelo: The Monuments Men
Nazi destruction of Art: The Monuments Men
Bill Murray and Bob Balaban: The Monuments Men
George Clooney and George Stout: The Monuments Men
The Monuments Men
: The Monuments Men
George Clooney and reproduction of Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper : The Monuments Men
George Clooney filming burned art: The Monuments Men
"The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb" by Jan van Eyck, better known as the Ghent Altarpiece, was completed in 1432 and has not had much peace in it's subsequent 583 years. It has been looted, burned, smuggled, forged and thankfully, rescued. In Stealing the Mystic Lamb: The True Story of the World's Most Coveted Masterpiece, Noah Charney takes an insightful and expert look at "the illicit whirlwind tour of Jan van Eyck's masterpiece, which is, in itself, a journey through the history of art theft." The text examines the origins, subjects, innovations and creative process involved in the Ghent Altarpiece, which is considered to be the stylistic bridge between Medieval and Renaissance painting. Much attention is given to the artist himself, Jan van Eyck, and the mysteries surrounding him. However, most of the well-written tome is dedicated to the various misfortunes that have befallen the Lamb. The altarpiece escaped destruction at the hands of torch-wielding Protestants, was looted by Napoleon, dismembered and sold to the Germans, hidden during World War I, had a panel stolen and ransomed in 1934, was looted by the Nazis in World War II and rescued by the Allies (The Monuments Men) in the Alt Aussee salt mine in 1945. With the exception of the one stolen panel (or perhaps not), the altarpiece is whole again and back in it's home at Sain Bavo Cathedral. Charney takes great care in his writing, providing equal balance between the acts of theft and efforts of recovery. Wonderful portrayals of the people, both good and evil, offer a greater depth to the story. Beyond a straightforward historical book, the pages offer a picture of the humanity and obsessive desire that have pervaded and surrounded this great masterpiece since it's creation.
The Ghent Altarpiece by Jan van Eyck (open): Stealing the Mystic Lamb. Noah Charney
The Ghent Altarpiece by Jan van Eyck (closed): Stealing the Mystic Lamb. Noah Charney
Noah Charney in Ghent: Stealing the Mystic Lamb. Noah Charney
Jan van Eyck: Stealing the Mystic Lamb. Noah Charney
detail Ghent Altarpiece: Stealing the Mystic Lamb. Noah Charney
Napoleon Bonaparte: Stealing the Mystic Lamb. Noah Charney
Stolen Judges panel, 1934: Stealing the Mystic Lamb. Noah Charney
Judges panel, replacement?: Stealing the Mystic Lamb. Noah Charney
Adolf Hitler: Stealing the Mystic Lamb. Noah Charney
The Ghent Altarpiece in Alt Aussee salt mine WWII: Stealing the Mystic Lamb. Noah Charney
The Ghent Altarpiece in Alt Aussee salt mine WWII: Stealing the Mystic Lamb. Noah Charney
The Ghent Altarpiece in Alt Aussee salt mine WWII: Stealing the Mystic Lamb. Noah Charney
The Ghent Altarpiece in Alt Aussee salt mine WWII: Stealing the Mystic Lamb. Noah Charney
George Clooney- Ghent Altarpiece- The Monuments Men: Stealing the Mystic Lamb. Noah Charney
Saint Bavo Cathedral, Ghent: Stealing the Mystic Lamb. Noah Charney
The Ghent Altarpiece: Stealing the Mystic Lamb. Noah Charney
The Lamb of God, the Ghent Altarpiece by Jan van Eyck: Stealing the Mystic Lamb. Noah Charney
Noah Charney: Stealing the Mystic Lamb. Noah Charney
