Classical Art
What Makes a Work of Art a Classic?
The Arnolfini Portrait
The Arnolfini Portrait is an oil painting on oak panel by Jan van Eyck, dated 1434. The painting, which measures approximately thirty-two by twenty-three inches, is part of the permanent display at the National Gallery in London. The portrait is thought to depict Italian merchant Giovanni Arnolfini and his wife in their home in the Flemish city of Bruges. In 1934, Erwin Panofsky suggested the couple had been misidentified, however, citing their handclasp as evidence. In the painting, the man's left hand grasps the right hand of the woman. By tradition, couples of equal social status would have joined right hands in the marriage ceremony. The left hand-right hand grasp denoted that the couple were not social equals; this was not the case with Arnolfini and his bride, leading to the conclusion that the couple in the painting represents two other people (Sandler 488). The couple has not been definitively identified.
Regardless of the identity of the couple, Van Eyck's painting is...
First, it marks an early use of oil paints instead of tempera, which had been a traditional medium for portrait artists. Van Eyck's use of oil was so masterful, in fact, that for generations he was credited with being the inventor of painting in oil (Smith). Second, Van Eyck's rendering of detail was meticulous. He used symbolism in the painting, but everything was done with a realism that had been previously unknown. His use of light was magnificent and he was able to capture the essence of a room and the people and objects within it. It is the first known full-length double portrait (van Buren). The painting is thus considered a classic since it demonstrates an early use of both material and techniques. The portrait is also very well executed, a testament, in part, to van Eyck's early training and work as an illuminator. With this experience, he developed a steady hand and an eye for fine detail.
Another reason the painting is a classic is its rich use of symbolism. In addition to the clasped hands as a symbol of intention to marry,…
