Jan van Eyck – biography and paintings of the artist in the Northern Renaissance genre – Art Challenge. Paintings by Jan van Eyck with titles, the artist's work

Portraits occupy a place in the work of Jan van Eyck special place. In fact, it was van Eyck, along with Robert Campin and Rogier van der Weyden, who turned portraiture into an independent genre. Before this the portrait was integral part religious works, such as portraits of donors. The works of the masters of early Netherlandish painting “are distinguished by greater (in comparison with the Italian portrait) spiritual sharpness, objective accuracy of the image... The hero of their portraits often appears as an inseparable particle of the universe, organically included in its infinitely complex system.”

Portraits by Jan van Eyck are small in size and executed in oil on a wooden board. They are distinguished by strict simplicity and refinement of means. External features people are conveyed very carefully, one might say, with merciless realism. His heroes are self-absorbed and full of dignity. According to researchers, Eick was the first to try to open a window in inner world their heroes.

One of van Eyck's earliest surviving portraits is Portrait of a Man in a Blue Chaperon. This small painting (22.5 cm x 16.6 cm with frame) was created around 1430. The man is depicted on dark background, his figure is turned three-quarters and fit into a narrow space, which is characteristic of the artist’s style. The model's face is sharply lit from the left, creating a striking play of light and shadow, drawing the viewer's eye. It should also be noted the realism and jewelry precision in the depiction of small details of appearance. The man in the portrait is depicted with one or two days of stubble, which is depicted very carefully.

Painters of that period did not give titles to their works, and the identity of the man depicted in the portrait remains unknown. Since he is holding a ring in his hands, it was assumed that this is a portrait of a jeweler. Recently a version has emerged that the ring is a symbol of engagement. The small size of the painting confirms this assumption - the portrait could have been sent with a marriage proposal to the bride and her family.

In the upper left corner you can see the sign with which Albrecht Durer signed his paintings. But it was established that the sign was drawn later. By whom and for what purpose has not been established.

"Portrait of a man in a blue chaperon"

Around 1431 van Eyck painted "Portrait of Cardinal Niccolò Albergati". The cardinal was very famous person. At the age of twenty he became a monk of the Carthusian order, eventually rose to the leadership of several communities, was elected bishop of Bologna in 1417, and received the title of cardinal in 1426. According to contemporaries, Niccolò Albergati was distinguished by great learning and monastic simplicity in everyday life. He enjoyed the special confidence of Pope Martin V and often carried out diplomatic assignments. He was nicknamed "Angel of Peace." In the fall of 1431, the cardinal was passing through Ghent. It was then that Jan van Eyck made a drawing that later served as the basis for the portrait, and on the back he wrote notes about the color of the stubble and the color of the eyes.

"Portrait of Cardinal Niccolo Albergati"

The painting "Leal souvenir" (French: For memory) was painted in 1432. The lower part of the portrait is a parapet painted with illusionistic precision from a chipped yellowish stone with an inscription carved on it and the scratched word TγΜ.ωΟΕΟς, and the end of this word falls on a crack in the stone. It is unclear whether this is a name, or a character's nickname (Timothy), or a motto (He Who Honors God). The lowest inscription reads: "Actu[m] an[n]o dni.1432.10.die ocobris.a.ioh de Eyck (This was done in the year of our Lord 1432, on the 10th of October, by John de Eyck)" . It is unknown who is depicted in this portrait, nor what his status is. There is an assumption that this is either a humanist unknown to us, or a musician from the retinue of Philip the Good.

"Leal souvenir" or "Timofey"

"Portrait of a Man in a Red Turban" was created in 1433. The painting is inscribed in a complex frame, the vertical sides of which and the central panel are actually one piece of wood. On the top of the frame is the inscription AlC IXH XAN (As I can) - a kind of pun on the name of the master. This motto appears in other paintings by van Eyck. Below is the inscription in Latin JOHES DE EYCK ME FECIT ANO MCCCC.33. 21. OCTOBRIS - Jan van Eyck made me on October 21, 1433. The letters are written in such a way that they look carved on wood.

It is believed that this is a self-portrait of the artist. This version was first expressed in 1655, but there is still no consensus. The clothes are quite suitable for such a person social status, which was occupied by Jan van Eyck. By the way, in fact, the man is not wearing a turban on his head, but a headdress that was fashionable at that time - a chaperon.

"Portrait of a man in a red turban"

Around 1435, a portrait of Baudouin de Lannoy, who served at the court of Philip the Good, was painted. He was ambassador to Henry V, governor of Lille. When in 1430 Philip the Good established knightly order Golden Fleece, Baudouin de Lannoy was among the first twenty-five knights of the new order. The portrait shows him in rich clothes and with an order chain around his neck.

As in many of this master's portrait works, the proportions of the character are somewhat off. The head is drawn too large to attract the viewer's attention.

"Portrait of Baudouin de Lannoy"

Giovanni di Nicolao Arnolfini was the subject of two portraits by Jan van Eyck. He was first depicted in couple portrait with his wife (the famous "Portrait of the Arnolfini couple") in 1434, and a second portrait was painted in 1438.

Giovanni Arnolfini was a merchant from Lucca in Italy. IN early age to conduct the family business, he came to Bruges, which was then the center of trade in Northern Europe, and lived there until the end of his life. He became rich trading in silk, tapestries and fabrics, but then his affairs most likely began to decline, since in 1442 Arnolfini signed an agreement under which, for a reasonable fee, he became a resident of the city of Bruges, promising not to engage in trade.

The portrait shows him wearing a red chaperon with a burrel on top, turning the headdress into something similar to a turban. It is interesting that the size of the burrele corresponded to the degree of nobility of its owner - the larger the burrele, the higher the person stood on the social ladder.

"Portrait of Giovanni di Nicolao Arnolfini"

One of the last surviving works of the master is a portrait of Margaret van Eyck, the artist's wife. On the frame there is an inscription in Greek: “My husband Johannes completed me in 1439 on June 17th,” and again the motto “As I can.” Margaret is dressed in elegant red woolen dress with fur trim. The "horned" ennen is decorated with lace.

From a modern point of view, Margaret was not a beauty, but she gives the impression of a bright personality. Her maiden name unknown, but she probably had quite a high social status. It is known that the couple married in 1433 and had several children. Margaret survived her husband by fifteen years, but no information has been preserved about how she spent these years.

"Portrait of Wife Margaret"

J. Huizinga "Autumn of the Middle Ages"

Jan van Eyck (Dutch Jan van Eyck, ca. 1385 or 1390, Maaseik-1441 Bruges) - Dutch painter of the early Renaissance, master of portraiture, author of more than 100 compositions on religious subjects, one of the first artists to master the technique of painting with oil paints.

Biography of Jan van Eyck

Jan van Eyck was the younger brother of the artist and his teacher Hubert van Eyck (1370-1426). Exact date Jan van Eyck's birth is unknown. Born in the Northern Netherlands in Maaseik.

He studied with his older brother Hubert, with whom he worked until 1426.

He began his activities in The Hague at the court of the Dutch counts, first mentioned between 1422 and 1426 as “Master Jan” in the rank of chamber cadet under Count Johann III.

Since 1425, he has been an artist and courtier of the Duke of Burgundy, Philip III the Good, who highly valued him as an artist and generously paid for his work.

In 1427-1428 As part of the ducal embassy, Jan van Eyck went to Spain, then to Portugal.

In 1427 he visited Tournai, where he was received with honor by the local guild of artists.

Probably met Robert Campin or saw his work.

He worked in Lille and Ghent, in 1431 he bought a house in Bruges and lived there until his death.

Eick's creativity

Eick's style was based on the implicit power of realism, serving as an important approach in the late medieval art.

Outstanding achievements of this realistic movement, for example, the frescoes of Tommaso da Modena in Treviso, the work of Robert Campin, influenced the style of Jan van Eyck.

Experimenting with realism, Jan van Eyck achieved amazing precision, unusually pleasing differences between the quality of materials and natural light. This suggests that his careful delineation of the details of daily life was done with the intention of displaying the splendor of God's creations.

Jan van Eyck developed the technique of painting in oils. He gradually achieved pedantic accuracy in depicting the natural world.

Many followers unsuccessfully copied his style. A distinctive quality of Jan van Eyck's work was the difficult imitation of his work.

His influence on the next generation of artists, in northern and southern Europe, cannot be overestimated. Whole evolution Flemish artists The 15th century bore the direct imprint of his style.

Among van Eyck's surviving works, the greatest is the Ghent Altarpiece, in the Cathedral of Saint Bavo in Ghent, Belgium. This masterpiece was created by two brothers, Jan and Hubert, and completed in 1432. The exterior panels show the day of the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel visited the Virgin Mary, as well as images of St. John the Baptist, John the Evangelist. The interior of the altar consists of the Adoration of the Lamb, revealing a magnificent landscape, as well as paintings above showing God the Father near the Virgin, John the Baptist, angels playing music, Adam and Eve.

Throughout his life, Jan van Eijk created many magnificent portraits, which are famous for their crystal objectivity and graphic precision.

Portrait of Jan de Leeuw Annunciation Ghent Altarpiece

Among his paintings: portrait unknown man(1432), portrait of a man in a red turban (1436), portrait of Jan de Leeuw (1436) in Vienna, portrait of his wife Margaretha van Eyck (1439) in Bruges.

Wedding picture"Giovanni Arnolfini and his Bride" (1434, National Gallery London) shows a superb interior along with the figures.

IN national gallery Arts of Washington presents the painting “The Annunciation,” which is attributed to the hand of van Eyck.

It is believed that some of Jan van Eyck's unfinished paintings were completed by Petrus Christus.

In the history of art, “Portrait of the Arnolfini Couple” is one of the first paintings signed by the artist himself. “Jan van Eyck was here. 1434". Since until the 15th century it was not customary to sign your paintings.

Painting by Jan Van Eyck, master from Bruges, Flemish painter of the era early renaissance, - in which the hint is hidden. The painting is called "Portrait of the Arnolfini Couple."

The picture just shines a huge amount details, which is quite interesting, because it was written only in 1434. And a clue as to how the author managed to make such a big step forward in the realism of the image is the mirror. And also a candlestick - incredibly complex and realistic.

Jan van Eyck was a painter at the court of John of Holland (1422 – 1425) and Philip of Burgundy. While serving Duke Philip, Jan van Eyck made several secret diplomatic trips. In 1428, van Eyck’s biography included a trip to Portugal, where he painted a portrait of Philip’s bride, Isabella.

Eick's style relied on the implicit power of realism and served as an important approach in late medieval art. Outstanding achievements of this realistic movement, for example, the frescoes of Tommaso da Modena in Treviso, the work of Robert Campin, influenced the style of Jan van Eyck. Experimenting with realism, Jan van Eyck achieved amazing precision, unusually pleasing differences between the quality of materials and natural light. This suggests that his careful delineation of the details of daily life was done with the intention of displaying the splendor of God's creations.

Some writers falsely credit Jan van Eyck with the discovery of oil painting techniques. Undoubtedly, he played a key role in perfecting this technique, achieving with its help an unprecedented richness and saturation of color. Jan van Eyck developed the technique of painting in oils. He gradually achieved pedantic accuracy in depicting the natural world.

Many followers unsuccessfully copied his style. A distinctive quality of Jan van Eyck's work was the difficult imitation of his work. His influence on the next generation of artists, in northern and southern Europe, cannot be overestimated. The entire evolution of Flemish artists of the 15th century bore the direct imprint of his style.

Throughout his life, Jan van Eijk created many magnificent portraits, which are famous for their crystal objectivity and graphic precision. Among his paintings: a portrait of an unknown man (1432), a portrait of a man in a red turban (1436), a portrait of Jan de Leeuw (1436) in Vienna, a portrait of his wife Margaretha van Eyck (1439) in Bruges. The wedding painting Giovanni Arnolfini and his Bride (1434, National Gallery London) shows a superb interior along with the figures.

In van Eyck's biography, the artist's special interest always fell on the depiction of materials, as well as the special quality of substances. His unsurpassed technical talent was especially evident in two religious works - “Our Lady of Chancellor Rolin” (1436) in the Louvre, “Our Lady of Canon van der Paele” (1436) in Bruges. The National Gallery of Art in Washington displays the painting "The Annunciation", which is attributed to the hand of van Eyck. It is believed that some of Jan van Eyck's unfinished paintings were completed by Petrus Christus.

Jan van Eyck(c. 1390-1441). Very little is known about Van Eyck's life. He came from the small town of Maaseika, located on the banks of the Meuse River, in the vicinity of Maastricht. The first evidence of his life dates back to 1422. By this time he was already famous master, in 1422-1425 he carried out orders from the Dutch counts in The Hague, served at the court of Count John of Bavaria, after whose death he moved to Bruges and then to Lille, where he became the court painter of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy.

Van Eyck enjoyed the unlimited trust of his patron and carried out delicate diplomatic assignments for him, one of which was arranging the marriage of the Duke with Princess Isabella of Portugal. From 1430 until the end of his life, Van Eyck lived in Bruges, where he bought a house in 1431. He was married and had ten children.

Van Eyck's work marks the transition from the traditions of Northern Gothic to new tradition, known as the Northern Renaissance. In it, Christian symbolism is intricately combined with extreme naturalism. The artist had impeccable mastery of the brush (his canvases are distinguished by the exquisite filigree of their execution), and at the same time he was distinguished by exceptional modesty: his motto was “As best I can.” Van Eyck's outstanding achievement is the improvement of technology oil painting, he was the first to use glaze, called the “Flemish manner”. New style discovered by the artist, had a significant impact on further development European painting, including the artists of the Italian Renaissance.

Most famous work Jan Van Eyck, and at the same time one of the most significant works in the history of European painting, is the “Ghent Altarpiece” (1432), painted by the artist together with his older brother Hubert (d. 1426). It consists of 12 oak doors (the total size of which is 3.6 x 4.5 m). On the frame of the altar there is an inscription: “Hubert van Eyck, greatest master of all who have ever lived on earth, began this work, and his brother Jan, the second in art, completed it by order of Jos Wade.”

The construction of the altar is complex and polyphonic, its parts are precisely calibrated and coordinated. Unique ensemble amazes the imagination with the abundance of figures, variety human types, a wealth of facial expressions. The world depicted in it is many-sided and diverse. And although in general its iconography goes back to medieval “cosmic” works, art of similar scope and accuracy of depiction Late Middle Ages didn't know.

Jan van Eyck was also one of the first portrait painters in history Western European painting. His portraits are deeply psychological and perfect in execution. The true pearl of Van Eyck’s portrait heritage is the “Portrait of the Arnolfini Couple” (1434), where the master depicted himself reflected in a round mirror hanging in the center of the picture behind the figures of the clients.

The artist died presumably in Bruges around 1441.

Every person, even those very far from art, has heard this name at least once in their life: Jan van Eyck. His paintings can be called perfect in technique and selection of colors, in plot and realism. They could easily decorate the most best collections, and people who understand painting claim that the artist’s canvases have hidden meaning and filled with a mystery that you want to unravel.

A little about the genius of the brush

An outstanding artist lived and worked in the Early era, 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 movement of painting, art nova, and taught him the basics brother Hubert, famous in art circles. ABOUT good education Jan can be judged by the inscriptions that he left on his works. These were words in native Flemish, French, Greek, Latin languages, Hebrew. The artist also paid great attention to the smallest details, which gives the right to judge observation and sharp mind van Eyck.

Recognition during life

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 worked at the court of John of Bavaria in The Hague, where he painted the count's chambers. True, not a single work has survived. Then the master moved to Flanders and entered the service of the Duke of Burgundy, for whom he worked for sixteen years.

Philip the Good often gave the artist secret orders, which indicates the Duke’s great trust in the painter. He also generously presented the artist with gifts and substantial cash payments. On behalf of the same Philip, Jan took part in a diplomatic mission in Portugal, the purpose of which was between the widowed Duke and Princess Isabella. In parallel with his work at court, Jan van Eyck carried out orders from churches and monasteries.

Innovative artist

What else is Jan van Eyck known for (we will list the paintings with names in our article)? Because many consider him an inventor oil paints and 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). That’s why it seemed that his canvases seemed to glow from within.

Most famous works

Many were written by Yang Wang Eick paintings. "Madonna in the Church" is one of early works, it is made using the technique of applying alternate layers on a sanded white gypsum primer coated with varnish. Therefore, it has an amazing internal glow effect. A small canvas depicts the Mother of God with the baby Jesus in a church building. On foreground there is a feminine silhouette of Madonna, on whose head there is an expensive crown. Jan drew the folds of the crowns, the interior of the temple, and the play of light and shadow in great detail. Currently this masterpiece is kept in Rome.

Jan van Eyck painted paintings that may seem strange. This is exactly what the painting “Portrait of the Arnolfini Couple” (1434) is considered to be. At first glance, this is an ordinary painting depicting a man and woman at the moment of their marriage. However, the artist’s signature in a prominent place, scenes from the life of Christ on the mirror, only one candle above the newlyweds, and so on, do not look quite standard. There is in the picture a large number of different characters: oranges denote wealth, a dog - fidelity, a candle - the all-seeing eye and the light of Christ. Today this work is kept in the London National Gallery.

What other paintings did Jan van Eyck create? You can see photos of some of them in the article:

"The Ghent Altarpiece", painted in 1432 together with his brother.
"Timothy" (1432).
"Our Lady of Chancellor Rolin" (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 themes and countless portraits. His paintings attract the eye with their inner radiance, as well as the subtle skill mastered by the great Jan van Eyck. It is not for nothing that he is considered one of the true geniuses of the brush.