The 'Mystic Lamb' is one of those works of art that will even have the biggest cultural barbarian gasp for breath, even thought this altarpiece painted by the brothers Hubert and Jan Van Eyck is not in mint condition. Two years ago scientific research, jointly financed by the prestigious Getty Foundation in Los Angeles, showed that the polyptych needed to be restored. “In 1950 a synthetic varnish layer was added, but this has since yellowed,” explains retired professor Anne van Grevenstein, a conservation specialist and inspiration behind the project. “The colours you see today are no longer the colours rendered by the Van Eycks. To this end we must remove the varnish without delay, as it also causes ugly cracks in the paint.” The entire restoration of the 'Mystic Lamb' will cost 1.4 million euros, and  Flemish Culture Minister Joke Schauvliege CD&V and her Heritage colleague Geert Bourgeois N-VA have each earmarked 550,000 euros. The remainder will be funded by the InBev-Baillet Latour Fund, which often  support Belgian heritage projects. The only suitable team for this restoration job was the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage KIK, and Schauvliege eventually gave the green light after positive consultation with the Masterpieces Council, which helps to manage the masterpieces of Flemish art heritage. During a period of five years this federal institution will put four of its five restorers to work on the altarpiece in the Ghent Museum for Fine Arts, using hall 4 as their studio. This will be open to the public, who will be able to watch the progress from behind a glass wall. The Caermers convent in the city centre will be used as a venue for exhibitions on the restoration project, with a new expo highlighting a new facet of restoration - from the restoration techniquest to the theft of the panel of the Just Judges - every six months.