Jan van Eyck (1390-1441) - Northern Renaissance Artist

Jan van Eyck (1390-1441) – Northern Renaissance Artist

About the Artist

Jan van Eyck ( born sometime around 1380 or 1390-died in 1441) was one of the most famous Netherlandish painters who became famous for Early Netherlandish painting. He was quite famous for and was one of the most important representatives of Early Northern Renaissance art. According to many historians its was Jan van Eyck who invented oil painting. 

Jan van Eyck (1390-1441) - Northern Renaissance Artist

Jan van Eyck (1390-1441) - Northern Renaissance Artist

Jan van Eyck painted on different subject matters including altarpieces, commissioned art works and portraits and single panel religious figures. About 20 surviving paintings can be credited confidently to the painter. He was a very famous and sort after portrait painter of his times. His portrait paintings were highly characterised by the manipulation of the oil paints and details. His style of painting was widely adopted by various artists such as van Der Weyden, Hans Memling and Petrus Christus. 

Jan van used wide variety of iconographic elements. He also used symbolism and biblical reference in this works. It is notable that Jan van Eyck was the only 15th century Netherlandish painter who signed his canvases. 

According to Facio, Jan van Eyck was one of the best painters of the 15th Century along with painters like Pisanello, Rogier van der Weyden, Gentile da Fabrino.  

Notable art works

Portrait of a Man 

Ghent Altarpiece

Arnolfini Portrait

Madonna of Chancellor Rolin 

Annunciation

Madonna in the Church (or The Virgin in the Church)

Portrait of Margaret van Eyck is a 1439 oil on wood painting

Bas-de-page of the Baptism of Jesus

The Dresden Triptych – 1437

Portrait of a Man with a Blue Chaperon

Léal Souvenir (also known as Timotheus or Portrait of a Man)

The Virgin and Child with Canon van der Paele

Art Gallery

Portrait of Jan de Leeuw 1436
Portrait of Jan de Leeuw 1436