Jan Van Eyck - 14th Century Famous Painter

Jan Van Eyck before c. 1390 – before c. 9 July 1441

Was a Flemish painter active in Bruges. Considered one of the most significant, North European influential painters of the 15th century.

Van Eyck pursued a career, that had two sides to it. Working both for John of Bavaria, count of Hainaut of Holland as also with Philip the good Duke of Burgundy. Being employed by the court earned him and secured his career which at the time was an unusual status for an artist, as well as artistic independence from the painters’ guild of Bruges, where he had settled by 1431.

His reputation and technical ability grew, mostly from his innovative approach towards the handling and manipulating of oil paint. His approach to oil was such that a myth, perpetuated by Giorgio Vasari, arose that he had invented oil painting.


Images Below - The alter Piece & The Adoration of the lamb

The Ghent Alter Piece - 1425 

Picture Source 
http://www.artexpertswebsite.com/pages/artists/vaneyck.php-  Last accessed 19/01/2014 

Adoration of the lamb - Van Eyck in 1425

Picture source 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghent_Altarpiece - Last accessed - 19/01/2014

A decade later he created another master piece. '' The Arnolfini Wedding''. His portrait and panel paintings were oil paintings.

The Arnolfini Wedding 

Picture Source 
http://employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/arth214_folder/van_eyck/arnolfini.html - last accessed 19/01/2014


Self Portrait - Van Eyck

 Self portrait by Van Eyck - before c. 1390 – before c. 9 July 1441

Reference 

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_van_Eyck [ online ] Last accessed on 10/11/2013


http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/eyck/hd_eyck.htm [ online ] Last accessed on 10/11/2013