Artwork

Copy of a detail of the Ghent Altarpiece, Sibyl of Cumaea, by Hubert and Jan van Eyck in the church of St Bavon, Ghent

Copy of a detail of the Ghent Altarpiece, Sibyl of Cumaea, by Hubert and Jan van Eyck in the church of St Bavon, Ghent is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Christian Schultz. It dates from 1864 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

This work is a watercolour reproduction created in 1864 by Christian Schultz, depicting the Sibyl of Cumaea as she appears in the Ghent Altarpiece by Hubert and Jan van Eyck. The image captures a kneeling female figure, dressed in green, with a golden headband, a scroll behind her, and a small window containing a bell.

Subject & Meaning

The figure is identified as the Sibilla cumana, one of the classical prophetesses from Roman tradition. In the original altarpiece she serves as a symbolic link between biblical prophecy and classical antiquity, embodying the transmission of divine knowledge across cultures.

Technique & Style

Schultz rendered the scene in watercolour, translating the oil-based details of the van Eyck brothers’ panel into a translucent medium. The copy retains the original’s compositional balance, using delicate washes to suggest the folds of the green dress and the gilded headpiece while preserving the intricate background elements.

History & Provenance

The watercolour was commissioned by the Arundel Society, an organization dedicated to disseminating images of great artworks. It was published in 1871 under the direction of Hangard-Mauge, with Schultz supervising the final production, reflecting mid‑nineteenth‑century efforts to make Renaissance masterpieces accessible to a wider audience.

Context

Created more than three centuries after the van Eycks’ original panel, the copy reflects Victorian interest in medieval art and the scholarly desire to document and study early Netherlandish painting. The work was intended for educational use, illustrating the iconography of the Ghent Altarpiece for scholars and the public alike.