Chapter 1
The oil painting revolution
Chapter 2
The secrets of the Ghent Altarpiece
Chapter 3
Decoding the Arnolfini Portrait
Chapter 4
The court diplomat and lasting legacy
YOUR GOAL
Master of How Jan van Eyck tricked the world with paint
Ch 3 · Decoding the Arnolfini Portrait
andy Women in 15th-century Burgundy gathered heavy folds of expensive wool to signal wealth, creating a look people mistake
andy Two figures reflect inside a central convex mirror hanging beneath elegant Latin script
Fun Fact
The photorealistic dog: The dog in the Arnolfini Portrait is a Brussels Griffon, a breed that still looks exactly the same today.
Glossary
iconography (noun)
The visual images and symbols used in a work of art. In 1434, Jan van Eyck employed these elements, painting a dog to symbolize marital fidelity.
The visual images and symbols used in a work of art. In 1434, Jan van Eyck employed these elements, painting a dog to symbolize marital fidelity.
Quiz
What does the little dog standing between the couple in the Arnolfini Portrait symbolize?
Quiz
Which famous Spanish painter's masterpiece, 'Las Meninas', was likely influenced by the Arnolfini Portrait's mirror trick?