By: Megan Jeffry
Jan van Eyck was one of the most influential artists of his time,
famous for his innovative Flemish painting style and certainly
the most successful artist in his family of painters.
No one knows exactly when Jan van Eyck was born, but it is believed that he was born
around 1385 in the providence of Limburg, or what we know today to be Belgium. He grew up
with a family of painters, so it was expected that Jan continue the profession. His brother,
Hubert van Eyck, was also an artist, who took charge of Jan and made him his student; he
taught Jan all about drawing and painting, while mastering the properties of colors. Together,
they worked for prince Philip of Charolais, and were so close that occasionally, Hubert would
begin a piece and Jan would finish it.
In 1421, the prince’s household was broken up, so Jan left Hubert’s control to work for
John of Bavaria, the Count of Holland. However, three years later, he returned to work for
Philip, settled in at Bruges, and married. He had one child, a girl, who later became a nun. He
worked faithfully for Philip of Charolais, completing fifteen impressive pieces of art, for the rest
of his life.
Jan’s style, Northern Renaissance, brought the extraordinary realism to
the themes and figures of late medieval art. This time in art was
characterized by a natural style of oil colors, focus on detail, textures
and perspective. Over the years, this Flemish artist made numerous
altarpieces and portraits, and could express any emotion through his oil
paintings.
Man in a Red Turban (1431)
Jan van Eyck created the oil piece, the Man in a Red Turban in 1431. Although no one really
knows who the man in this painting is, it has been questioned that it could be a self portrait;
there is a slight strain in the man’s eyes, which could mean that he was looking in a mirror while
painting himself. The clothes that he is wearing is also relevant to the period of time in which
he lived. The detail in the lines are very sharp and precise, especially those of the turban. Also,
the head of the subject is un-proportioned, and larger than the size of his body.
The inscription in Greek above the painting says AIC IXH XAN, which means “as best I can” or
“the best I am capable of doing.” This motto has a very humanist spirit, which shows that the
artist accepts himself and is proud to share his work with the world. The inscription below the
painting says JOHES DE EYCK ME FECIT ANNO MCCCC.33. 21. OCTOBRIS, or “Jan van Eyck made
me on October 21, 1433.”
The Man in a Red Turban has been sheltered in the National Gallery of London since 1851.
Giovanni Arnolfini and his Bride (1434)
Jan van Eyck created Giovanni Arnolfini and his Bride in 1434. It is a portrait of Giovanni
Arnolfini and his wife, Giovanna Cenami, renewing their wedding vows in a Flemish
bedchamber. This oil painting really symbolizes the strength and inner meaning of true
marriage. There are two details that show this: first, to the right of the couple, the curtains of
the marriage bed have been opened and secondly, clogs which are cast aside signify that the
renewal of their vows are taking place on holy ground.
At first glance, one assumes that the wife is pregnant, but is she really? There are many details
that answer this question: the crowning ornament on the bedpost is a little statue of Saint
Margaret, who is the patron saint of childbirth. Also, a whisk brook is hanging from the finial (a
carved ornamental feature on the top of a piece of furniture), which symbolizes domestic care
and the oranges to the right of Giovanni Arnolfini could be placed purposely to represent
fertility.
There are many more symbolic details in these paintings. The small dog in front of the couple
stands for loyalty and faithfulness, and that’s where the common name Fido originated because
Fido means “to trust” in Latin. Additionally, Jan van Eyck was very clever when he drew the
reflection of the room through the mirror, which represents the all-seeing eye of God and
above the mirror, it says “Johannes van Eyck fuit hic, 1434,” which means “Jan van Eyck was
here in 1434.”
Giovanni Arnolfini and his Bride is kept the National Gallery in London.
The Madonna of Chancellor Rolin (1438)
Jan van Eyck made this impressive piece of art in 1438. In this time, artists had just discovered a
new technique called perspective. In perspective, the artist can make a two dimensional canvas
appear to be three dimensional; the artist selects a vanishing point, using vertical lines to draw
the readers eye to this point, which in this case is through the arches, and down the river to the
boat, or even the mountains that are obscured in the distance.
This painting is of Nicholas Rolin, who was Philip of Charolais’ (also known as Philip the “Good”)
right man, who is kneeling on the left of the picture. He is wearing a brocade jacket with gold
detailing, trimmed with mink. The look on his face shows that he is almost lost in thought, and
his eyes seems as though he has been reading a book for hours. On the other side is the Virgin,
who has an angel holding a crown above her head. She is presenting her child, Jesus, to the
chancellor. She is wearing a magnificent robe, with such incredible detailing, which shows how
wealthy she is. They have been brought together on the terrace of an Italian palace.
The three arches behind them are very detailed, and behind them, a whole world seems to
appear. First, there are roses and lilies in a small garden, which symbolize Marys virtues.
Following the garden, there are two peacocks, which represent immortality and the pride that
such a dominant man like Chancellor Rolin had. The picture beyond the terrace is certainly the
most interesting feature of this painting, where it is shown just how large and beautiful this
palace truly is. A wide river is flowing through the heart of the city, and separates the modest
towns, behind Rolin, from the buildings and prevailing Gothic church, behind the Virgin; the
river is busy, with many boats arriving, which could possibly mean that all humans have a
natural instinct to travel towards large cities and cathedrals.
The Madonna of Chancellor Rolin is kept in the Musée du Louvre, Paris.
Ghent Altarpiece (1432)
*Jan van Eyck did not only paint oil paintings, he also made a few altarpieces like the Ghent
Altarpiece. The Ghent altarpiece was begun by Hubert van Eyck, but Jan later took over because
Hubert passed away in 1426; it was completed in 1432 and placed in the cathedral on May 6.
This piece displays 24 different scenes, on both the front and back of the sides, and each scene
makes a connection to Christianity/religion in some way.*
The Ghent Altarpiece is housed in a chapel in Saint Bavo Cathedral in Belgium.
Bibiliography
Jan van Eyck. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2009. <http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/projects/
renaissance/vaneyck.html>.
jan van Eyck as Court Painter. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2009. <http://employees.oneonta.edu/
farberas/ARTH/arth214_folder/van_eyck/court_painter.html>.
Jan van Eyck Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2009. <http://www.artinthepicture.com/artists/
Jan_van_Eyck/Biography/>.
Jan van Eyck (ca. 1380/90–1441). Metropolitan Museum, n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2009.
<https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/eyck/hd_eyck.htm>.
Jan van Eyck’s Arnolfini Wedding Portrait. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2009.
<http://employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/arth214_folder/van_eyck/arnolfini.html>.
Jan van Eyck’s Paintings. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2009. <http://www.library.thinkquest.org/.../
artwork_Eyck.htm>.
WebMuseum: Eyck, Jan van. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. <http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/
auth/eyck/>.