Alleya Fogg
Professor Steven Bunn
Art History 366
05 June 2016
The Mystery in the Mirror Little is known of Jan Van Eyck's personal and early life. What is known, however, is that he was a revolutionary artist of his time. He used oil as a medium, the slow drying substance allowed him time to mix colors and create layers. The painting that most embodies Eyck's skills is the Arnolfini Double Portrait, painted in 1434. The painting is currently displayed at the National Gallery in London. This double portrait is an intriguing piece that leaves more questions than answers. One of the reasons the painting is so intriguing, is because of who is being painted. At a time where portraits and paintings were more often than not, painted for and bought …show more content…
Only Jan Van Eyck himself knows the true meaning in the piece, but spectators can infer for themselves. One of the most discussed parts of the painting is the chandelier and the one burning candle. Some scholars have thought that the one burning candle represented the all seeing eye of God, which would make perfect sense if it were not for the burnt out stub candle to the right of it. It has been suggested that the candles represent the man and the woman, and the painting is a memorial to her. Which is sweet and could quite possibly be the case. Seeing as how Giovanni Arnolfini and his wife never had any children, and his wife died in 1433, a year before completion, it very well could be a memorial to a wife who died in childbirth. This painting is a showcase on Van Eyck's skill and mastery of his art. His use of layers and textures was something that had not been done before him. Harbison attributes a part of Jan Van Eyck's success to his choice of medium,"The oil-glaze technique contributes greatly to this. Carefully applied layers of this translucent pigments-the tiny particles of colour suspended in an oil-based binding medium”. [15]. Jan Van Eyck was a revolutionary in his field, he paved the way for many great artists after him, including Robert
Professor Steven Bunn
Art History 366
05 June 2016
The Mystery in the Mirror Little is known of Jan Van Eyck's personal and early life. What is known, however, is that he was a revolutionary artist of his time. He used oil as a medium, the slow drying substance allowed him time to mix colors and create layers. The painting that most embodies Eyck's skills is the Arnolfini Double Portrait, painted in 1434. The painting is currently displayed at the National Gallery in London. This double portrait is an intriguing piece that leaves more questions than answers. One of the reasons the painting is so intriguing, is because of who is being painted. At a time where portraits and paintings were more often than not, painted for and bought …show more content…
Only Jan Van Eyck himself knows the true meaning in the piece, but spectators can infer for themselves. One of the most discussed parts of the painting is the chandelier and the one burning candle. Some scholars have thought that the one burning candle represented the all seeing eye of God, which would make perfect sense if it were not for the burnt out stub candle to the right of it. It has been suggested that the candles represent the man and the woman, and the painting is a memorial to her. Which is sweet and could quite possibly be the case. Seeing as how Giovanni Arnolfini and his wife never had any children, and his wife died in 1433, a year before completion, it very well could be a memorial to a wife who died in childbirth. This painting is a showcase on Van Eyck's skill and mastery of his art. His use of layers and textures was something that had not been done before him. Harbison attributes a part of Jan Van Eyck's success to his choice of medium,"The oil-glaze technique contributes greatly to this. Carefully applied layers of this translucent pigments-the tiny particles of colour suspended in an oil-based binding medium”. [15]. Jan Van Eyck was a revolutionary in his field, he paved the way for many great artists after him, including Robert