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Jan van Eyck
(about 1390-1441)
Serena B., Amiela Nicole D.
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Characteristics
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Signs and dates his pictures, which was unusual at the time
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Writes words or phrases on his art
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Has a good sense of visual texture; each surface looks like a
different texture
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Can portray direct and diffused light, as well as shadows
associated with it (known as pictorial illusionism)
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All of his painted subjects are in a three-quarter pose, facing
slightly away from the viewer
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The Annunciation, 14341436. Oil on wood,
transferred to canvas
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The angel Gabriel tells the Virgin Mary that
she’ll conceive Christ
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Words are written on the piece; Gabriel says
“Hail Mary, full of grace”. Mary’s response–
behold the handmaiden of the Lord”– is upside
down so God can see her response
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Most depictions of the annunciation occur in the
Virgin Mary’s home, with both Gabriel and
Mary being far apart; here, they are in an
elaborate church and are much closer
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The close proximity gives a sense of intimacy and
privacy
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The Annunciation, 14341436. Oil on wood,
transferred to canvas
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Symbolism in the Upper Story:
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The Romanesque architecture in the form of roundarched windows, passes into the more newer Early
Gothic architecture below to further the point of
transitioning from the Old to New Testament
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The upper story of the building is dark with a
single stain glass window depicting God
represents the Old Testament
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The Annunciation, 14341436. Oil on wood,
transferred to canvas
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Symbolism in the Lower Story:
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Is brighter in comparison since it’s lit up by the
“Light of the World”
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The three windows represent the Trinity, and may
refer to the coming of the New Testament
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The floor tiles depict Old Testament events such as
David beheading Goliath, as well as the Philistine
temple being destroyed, which may be an allegory
to what Jesus would do later on
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The Annunciation, 14341436. Oil on wood,
transferred to canvas
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Symbolism in the Foreground:
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The lilies near the Virgin Mary represents her
innocence and purity
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Lilies are also on Gabriel’s robes; this represents
Mary
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The dove of the Holy Spirit descends on rays of
light; one ray of light reaches the Virgin Mary’s
head, signifying that she now conceives the son of
God
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Bibliography
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Brommer, Gerald. Discovering Art History. Worcester: Davis Publications,
Inc, 1997. Print.
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Cork, Richard. “Old Subject, New Approach”. The Wall Street Journal
March 22, 2013. Web.
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“Jan van Eyck: Flemish Painter”. Visual Arts Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d.Web.
9 Apr. 2014.
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Jones, Susan. “Jan van Eyck (ca. 1390-1441” Heilbrunn Timeline of Art
History. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000. Web. 9 Apr 2014.
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Klip, Ronald. “Jan van Eyck: The Annunciation (Washington)” Art and the
Bible. Art and the Bible. 2010. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.

“The Annunciation”. National Gallery of Art. National Gallery of Art,
n.d.Web. 9 Apr. 2014.