The Worship of the Mystic Lamb (Copy of the Ghent Altarpiece)

Coxie employed the detailed modeling characteristic of Northern Renaissance oil painting, giving the foreground figures a high degree of realism while allowing the background to recede in softer tones. The careful handling of light on the lamb and the rich, saturated colors reflect his training in both Flemish and Italianate traditions, a blend that earned him the nickname “the Flemish Raphael.”

Created during Coxie’s mature period, the copy was likely intended for a patron seeking a faithful reproduction of the celebrated Ghent Altarpiece. After passing through private collections, the painting entered the Berlin Gemäldegalerie’s holdings, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s Northern Renaissance holdings.

The original Ghent Altarpiece, completed in the early 15th century, was a benchmark of devotional art in the Low Countries.

The original Ghent Altarpiece, completed in the early 15th century, was a benchmark of devotional art in the Low Countries. By the mid‑16th century, reproductions such as Coxie’s served both as study pieces for artists and as devotional objects for patrons unable to acquire the original. Coxie’s career, which included service to Emperor Charles V and King Philip II, positioned him at the crossroads of courtly patronage and ecclesiastical commissions.