Often imitated but never equaled, Jan van Eyck (c. 1390-1441) left an
indelible impression on Renaissance art and paved the way for future
realist painters. With its unprecedented precision and masterful use of
color, Arnolfini Double Portrait, depicting the wedding of a young
couple, is testament to the mastery of the Flemish painter and leader of
the Early Netherlandish school. Van Eyck painted both secular and
religious subject matter, emphasizing a naturalism and realism that
moved seamlessly between 15th-century everyday life and poetic, heavenly
settings. Working with oil paint, he innovated the medium, allowing for
great intensity and depth of color.
Trace the artist's impressive oeuvre in this hardcover survey of his
work, including altarpieces, religious figures, and commissioned
portraits. Featuring enlarged details and close analyses of masterpieces
like the Ghent Altarpiece, this publication also offers a chronology of
van Eyck's production, including the output of his workshop which
continued even after his death.
About the series
Born back in 1985, the Basic Art Series has evolved into the
best-selling art book collection ever published. Each book in TASCHEN's
Basic Art series features:
a detailed chronological summary of the life and oeuvre of the artist,
covering his or her cultural and historical importance
a concise biography
approximately 100 illustrations with explanatory captions
