Jan Van Eyck, The Arnolfini Portrait, 1434

Mini intro

Date: 1434

Artist: Jan Van Eyck

Style: Northern Renaissance

Size: 82×60 cm

Medium: oil on wood panel

Key facts (2)

Giovanni was the banker for the Medici family

Both of them were Florentine

Form (Arnolfini) (8)

Idealised naturalism

Defined sharp jaw

Large nose

Pale

deep set eyes

cleft chin

thin top lip

thin long fingers

Form (Cenami) (7)

Thin eyebrows

Rosy cheeks

Round soft jawline

High plucked hairline

Small nose

Slender fingers

Appears pregnant

Pose (6)

Her hand is placed on his hand

Her hand on her stomach draws attention to it

She turns toward him slightly bowing her head

He is holding her hand not ‘holding hands’

Raised hand is commanding, dominant

Turned towards viewer

Gaze (2)

She is looking at him with a downwards gaze - docile

He is gazing directly over viewer’s head, not at her

clothing (9)

He wears all black which is most expensive dye

Her and his fur comes from Russia which shows wealth

His hat is woven and very big

She wears a veil/headdress which is modest

she has a lot of gathered fabric on her long dress which must be expensive

lapis lazuli on sleeves (more expensive than gold)

Gold ring on her finger

Her red shoes for staying inside

His wooden clogs for outside

Setting (7)

Chandelier from Germany is expensive

Signature from artist, like a witness

Glass for windows from Venice

Carpet and lapis lazuli from Middle East

Circular mirror with Christian imagery in perimeter

Oranges by window from Spain

Dog in foreground (fidelity in marriage)