The strange history of the world's most stolen painting | Noah Charney

The Ghent Altarpiece, a highly stolen artwork, has a tumultuous history involving thefts, forgeries, and wartime raids. In 1934, a panel was stolen, leading to ransom notes and suspicions of forgery. During WWII, the Nazis seized it, but the Monuments Men recovered it. The altarpiece, completed by Jan Van Eyck in 1432, revolutionized art with its use of oil paint and realism. Recent conservation revealed hidden details and confirmed the missing panel remains lost. The mystery persists, with ongoing investigations and new clues emerging.

What event in 1934 led to a series of ransom notes regarding the Ghent Altarpiece?

• A panel was stolen from the altarpiece.

• The altarpiece was moved to a new location.

• The altarpiece was destroyed in a fire.

• The altarpiece was sold to a private collector.

How did the Monuments Men learn about the location of the stolen art during World War II?

• They found a hidden map in a library.

• A local dentist's son-in-law, a former Nazi art advisor, informed them.

• A captured Nazi soldier revealed the location.

• They intercepted a Nazi communication.

What was the innovative technique used by Jan Van Eyck in the Ghent Altarpiece?

• Use of watercolor paints

• Use of oil paints

• Use of digital art techniques

• Use of charcoal sketches

What artistic style did the Ghent Altarpiece help pioneer?

• Impressionism

• Cubism

• Surrealism

• Realism

What did the conservation work reveal about the mystic lamb in the Ghent Altarpiece?

• It was missing from the altarpiece.

• It was painted over to appear more humanoid.

• It had a hidden message written on it.

• It was originally a different animal.

What percentage of certain sections of the Ghent Altarpiece had been painted over due to restorations?

• 70%

• 50%

• 90%

• 30%

What was the final clue regarding the missing panel of the Ghent Altarpiece?

• A letter from a museum curator

• A map leading to its location

• A photograph of the panel

• A deathbed confession with a ransom note