Art Study Jan Van Eyck The Arnolfini Portrait

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1434 Renaissance masterpiece, in oil on oak panelling. A portrait by the early Dutch Master Van Eyck of the Bruges based aristocratic Giovanni Di Nicoli Arnolfini and his pregnant wife, in their own house. The paint is layered thickly, to give a depth and clear colouring, as well as a three dimensional feel. The couple hold hands and the lighting illuminates their plush luxurious surroundings. A cherry tree can be seen through the window. The really clever touch is the large mirror showing the view back across the room, and really packing a lot of room into a quite compressed space. The mirror frame is decorated in religious imagery. A Brussell's Griffin dog is portrayed and Van Eyck himself is one of the figures seen in the mirror's reflection. The identity of the wife is something of a mystery. Giovanni was not married in 1434, so the image is either a betrothal prediction of a wedding to come, or a mourning portrait of his first wife who died before the portrait was created. The cherry tree being in full Summer bloom is in contrast to the heavy winter wear the couple are dressed in. It was traditional to show wealth by dressing art subjects in as many rich clothes as possible at this time. The portrait Arthur Chappell