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This is a montage of what we enjoyed during our Easter trip to Gent. A page spread in my "Travels To Other Places" Moleskine sketchboook ...
drawing copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved
Memories of Gent - Easter Trip
Pen & Ink with Watercolors, in Moleskine Sketchbook
Gent, Belgium ~ April, 2012
In the montage, starting top left and going clockwise, is the Graventsteen Castle, St. Bavos Cathedral, some Guild Houses of Gent, Gent Coat of Arms, Chocolate Easter Eggs, and the little purple cones at the bottom left are Gentse Neuzen (Gents Noses) Candy. I didn't do any other drawing while in Gent - too many things to pack into a short stay (my excuse!).
We did take a lot of night photos on this trip, though. These are the beautiful old Guild Houses on the Graslei Canal that runs through the city ...
photo copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved.
Buildings on the Graslei Canal at Night
Gent, Belgium ~ April 2012
However, in my quest to find Easter chocs, I must say there were plenty of chocolate rabbits, chickens, eggs, and other tempting treats in Gent ...
photos copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong all rights reserved
Candy Shops and Windows in Gent
Gent, Belgium - April 2012
We didn't actually buy any chocolates; just looked in the windows. Everytime we had coffee or tea, we were served chocolate easter eggs! How cool is that?! Needless to say, we had a lot of coffee and tea. ;o)
As you can see, the Kermits enjoyed the trip too (that's my very patient Dutchman also sitting at the table) ...
photo copyright Judith Nijholt-Strong. all rights reserved.
Kermits at Brasserie 't Stropke, Scoring Easter Chocs
Gent, Belgium ~ April 2012
We all had fun!
:o)
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Post Script:
Seeing The Ghent Altarpiece by the van Eyck brothers.
I did see the Gent Altarpiece again, in the St. Bavos Cathedral, and while still a stunning masterpiece, it is indeed desperately in need of cleaning and restoration.
According to what I've heard and read, the restoration work will begin in September 2012 (that is this year!) .
The piece will be moved to the Gent Museum of Fine Arts (Museum voor Schone Kunsten, or simply MSK) for the restoration/cleaning work. But while at MSK, visitors will be able to view the restoration of the piece as it is in progress. That, I think, would be interesting to see. Being a large, twelve panelled, piece, I suppose it will be some time before the restoration work is completed.
While I was looking at the painting in the cathedral, I asked an attendant whether or not the piece will be returned to St. Bavos after restoration is completed. He told me, at this point in time, it is uncertain if the work will be returned or if it will remain in the Gent Museum of Fine Arts, or go somewhere else. So, we'll see ... whatever they decide, I hope it stays in Gent!
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tot ziens,
Judy
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