Jan Van Eyck The Arnolfini Portrait Northern Renaissance Painting Masterpieces of Art

This video is an exploration of the Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck. It was painted in 1434 in Brugge, Belgium. In the painting we see a man and a woman with joined hands in a domestic interior space. Is the painting a wedding or a betrothal? Van Eyck was a court artist to the Duke of Burgundy, Philip the Good. The room is decorated in a way that depicts prosperity in the 15th Century. The bed was a symbol of status and wealth. The man has taken off his clogs, and the woman has taken off her slippers. Their clothes are the height of fashion. There is symbolism in the painting. In a room light by daylight, there is a single candle lit. This is the flame of God's presence. There is a small mirror on the back wall. The mirror expands the room and shows us what we cannot see. Around the frame of the mirror, are 10 tiny roundels, each depicting a scene from the passion of Christ. This transforms the mirror from a simple decorative object, to a powerful Christian symbol. It reflects the physical reality of the room, but also its spiritual significance- the eye of God. We also see two figures in the doorway, that are not visible in the painting. They are witnesses. van Eyck signed the painting by writing above the mirror, Jan van Eyck was here. At the bottom of the painting, there is a small dog, a Brussels Griffin, symbolizing loyalty, fidelity, and marital faith. The painting could be a wedding, a betrothal, a memorial portrait, a legal or financial document, or a display or wealth and social standing. The painting was a revolution. Van Eyck was a master of oil painting, and used transparent layers of paint, called glazes. This was a new kind of realism. Van Eyck blended meticulous realism with hidden symbolism creating a complex, new language for portraiture. He inspired generations of artists, from the Dutch Master Vermeer, to the Spanish Master Velasquez, to Modern and Contemporary artists. Its iconic compositions sparks questions about identity, reality and the act of looking. The Arnolfini portrait remains a mystery, and that is the key to its immortality. This painting is part of the Northern Renaissance Art Movement.

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