Every person, even very far from art, at least once in his life heard such a name: Jan van Eyck. His paintings can be called perfect in technique and color matching, in plot and realism. They would easily adorn the best collections, and people who are versed in painting claim that the artist’s canvases have a hidden meaning and are filled with a mystery that I want to solve.
A bit about brush genius
An outstanding artist lived and worked in the era of the Early Northern Renaissance. Jan van Eyck, whose paintings can be studied for hours, was born in the Netherlands (now the town of Maaseik is located in Belgium) at the end of the fourteenth century. It was then that he laid the foundation for a new trend in art nova painting, and his siblings taught him the brother Hubert, known in the circles of admirers of art. Jan’s good education can be judged by the inscriptions that he left on his work. These were words in native Flemish, French, Greek, Latin, Hebrew. And the artist paid great attention to the smallest details, which gives the right to judge the observant and sharp mind of van Eyck.
Lifetime recognition
It is known for certain that Jan van Eyck, whose paintings delight people in the twenty-first century, was also popular with his contemporaries. In 1422, he works at the court of John of Bavaria in The Hague, where he paints the count's chambers. True, not a single work has been preserved. Then the master moved to Flanders and entered the service of the Duke of Burgundy, who worked for sixteen years.
Philip the Good often gave the artist secret assignments, which indicates a great confidence in the duke of the painter. And he generously endowed the artist with gifts and solid cash payments. On the instructions of the same Philippe, Jan took part in a diplomatic mission in Portugal, the purpose of which was to conclude a marriage between the widowed duke and Princess Isabella. In parallel with the work at the court, Jan van Eyck carried out orders from churches and monasteries.
Groundbreaking artist
What else is Jan van Eyck known for (we list the paintings with names in our article)? The fact that many consider him the inventor of oil paints and the popularizer of oil painting techniques in the Old World. In fact, the master only improved such coloring compositions, making them quick-drying and giving them the ability to be applied in several layers (including transparent). Therefore, it seemed that his canvases seemed to glow from the inside.
The most famous works
Many painted Jan van Eyck paintings. “Madonna in the Church” is one of the earliest works; it was made using the technique of applying layers of oil paints alternately on a polished white gypsum primer coated with varnish. Therefore, it is distinguished by the amazing effect of the internal glow. A small canvas depicts the Virgin and Child Jesus in the church building. In the foreground is the feminine silhouette of the Madonna, on whose head an expensive crown flaunts. In great detail, Jan drew folds on clothes, crown decor , the interior of the temple, the play of light and shadow. Currently, this masterpiece is kept in Rome.
Ian van Eyck painted paintings that may seem strange. This is exactly what the painting “Portrait of the Four Arnolfini” (1434 year) is considered. At first glance, this is an ordinary picture depicting a man and a woman at the time of their marriage. However, the painter’s signature in a prominent place, scenes from the life of Christ on a mirror, only one candle above the newlyweds and so on does not look quite standard. The picture contains a large number of different symbols: oranges indicate wealth, a dog - fidelity, a candle - an all-seeing eye and the light of Christ. Today, this work is stored in the London National Gallery.
What other paintings did Jan van Eyck create? You can see photos of some of them in the article:
- "Ghent Altar", written in 1432 with his brother.
- "Timothy" (1432).
- "Our Lady of Chancellor Rolen" (1436).
- "Portrait of a man with a carnation" (1435).
- "Saint Barbara" (1437) and others.
In total, the painter created about a hundred works on religious subjects and countless portraits. His paintings attract the eye with inner radiance, as well as the subtle craftsmanship that the great Jan van Eyck possessed. No wonder he is considered one of the greatest artists in the world, a true genius of the brush.