The Arnolfini Portrait, Jan Van Eyck
Jan Van Eyck, The Arnolfini Portrait,1434, tempera and oil on oak panel, National Gallery, London
The Arnolfini Portrait, once known as The Arnolfini Wedding Portrait, The Arnolfini Marriage, and the Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and his Wife, is among the most debated artworks in art history. The debate over Jan Van Eyck’s magnum opus stems from discussions over the circumstances in which the painting was commissioned and created. The National Gallery, where the artwork is currently located, states that the portrait is in fact not a wedding but rather a couple who are already married, but that is all they know, or believe to know. Perhaps it is a memorial piece for Arnolfini’s late wife, or maybe it is nothing but a common portrait. Nonetheless, The Arnolfini Portrait is among the most detailed works, not only in technique, but in symbolism as well, and remains as one of the crown jewels of Northern Renaissance art.
Made in 1434 for an Italian Merchant in Brugges, Belgium, the piece emphasizes the wealth and status of (maybe) Giovanni Arnolfini and his wife. Dressed in luxurious fur clothes while fruit grows outside on their tree appears to be an outright declaration of their wealth. The Arnolfini’s seem to be in a warmer environment suitable for fruits to grow in, yet they dress in their most expensive attire. The fruit on the windowsill further symbolizes their wealth as fruits were known to be very expensive commodities at the time. Interestingly, some have stated that Arnolfini may have acquired his wealth through the import of oranges. The intricately designed carpet is another testament of their wealth, and the bedroom itself displays the grandeur of the Arnolfini’s as it was a space to receive visitors. However, this image is not a true depiction of their home, but rather an idealized image to fit Arnolfini’s aesthetic purpose or to fit his aspirations. Although Van Eyck includes a number of references to their wealth in the portrait, he details so many more aspects of their marriage and religion within the piece.
As a couple, they are shown to be holding hands with their shoes off, emphasizing the importance of the event. Furthermore, on the chandelier we see a single lit candle, symbolizing the presence of God, sanctifying this event. The mirror behind the couple is arguably the most detailed and impressive aspects of this piece. In the mirror, a man can be seen standing in front of the couple, which some argue to be Van Eyck himself. Around the mirror are ten scenes of the Passion of Christ, each with distinctly different scenes. Apart from the religious references and their symbolism, the attention to detail required to paint such detailed scenes at such a small scale underscores the mastery of Van Eyck. Adding to the mystery surrounding the portrait, Van Eyck, above the mirror, wrote, “Jan Van Eyck was here, 1434,” providing a sense of the artist being with the subjects.
The dog standing below the couple is yet another source of mystery found in the Arnolfini Portrait. What is known is the symbolic meaning behind the presence of the dog – fidelity in marriage. Curiously, when using infrared reflectography, one can see the drawings Van Eyck made before using paint, and missing from these drawings is the dog. Why was the dog added to the portrait later? We may never know. However, the dog is important not only because of its symbolic value and mysterious origins, but because of the level detail put into it. The hair, which in some areas parts, is cowlicked in others, and frays in others, and is intricately constructed to both reflect light and cast shadows.
The Arnolfini’s themselves are elongated yet surrounded by a trove of material objects, detailing Van Eyck’s focus on the space around them rather than human anatomy. The range of textures featured in this painting from the lace of her dress, to the fur on his coat, to the hair of the dog, demonstrate Van Eyck’s attention to detail and his emphasis on the material objects they possess.
No matter how you interpret Jan Van Eyck’s masterpiece, it is impossible to deny the beauty and attention to detail displayed in The Arnolfini Portrait. His legacy has stood the test of time and is cemented in Brugges’ history with a statue and public square bearing his name.
