What Is Jan van Eyck Known For
In the early 15th century, a quiet revolution unfolded in the realm of painting, not in the sun-drenched studios of Florence or Rome, but in the misty, cobbled streets of Bruges. Here, a painter named Jan van Eyck forever changed the trajectory of Western art. Celebrated as one of the founding figures of the Northern Renaissance, van Eyck’s works are revered for their meticulous detail, vivid realism, and technical innovation.
Jan van Eyck, A Painter Cloaked in Mystery
Though one of the most influential painters of his time, surprisingly little is known about Jan van Eyck’s early life. He was born around 1390, likely in the Maasland region (modern-day Belgium or the Netherlands). The first solid documentation of his career begins in the 1420s, where records show him employed as a court painter to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy.
Unlike many artists of the period who were confined to guild commissions and ecclesiastical patronage, van Eyck’s position at court gave him freedom, prestige, and access to aristocratic patrons. His work was not only artistic but also diplomatic; he traveled on missions for the Duke, suggesting that his talents extended beyond the canvas.
Van Eyck’s signature, “Als Ich Can”, meaning “As I Can” (a pun on his name and a motto of humility and pride), often appeared in his works. It subtly conveyed his ambition and confidence. His mastery was not only in painting but in the way he elevated the profession itself, transforming the role of the artist from artisan to intellectual.
Jan van Eyck is best known for revolutionizing the use of oil paints. Although he did not invent oil painting, he refined the technique to such a degree that he is often wrongly credited with its invention. His innovations allowed for multiple transparent layers of paint (glazes), resulting in unprecedented luminosity and depth.
Van Eyck’s works are renowned for:
Photorealistic detail
Rich, vivid colors
Symbolism embedded in ordinary settings
Religious depth fused with everyday realism
Innovative use of light, texture, and perspective
He brought an almost forensic attention to detail to his portraits and religious works, capturing not only the likeness of his subjects but their essence. From the gleam of a pearl earring to the embroidered thread of a robe, van Eyck’s ability to replicate textures and materials remains astonishing to this day.
Jan van Eyck’s Most Famous Paintings
1. The Ghent Altarpiece (1432)
Co-created with his brother Hubert van Eyck, this polyptych is a towering achievement of early Netherlandish art. Housed in St. Bavo’s Cathedral in Ghent, the work is composed of 12 panels that depict scenes from Christian theology, including the famous “Adoration of the Mystic Lamb”.
The altarpiece is lauded for:
Its sheer scale and ambition
Lifelike representation of figures and landscapes
Symbolic richness and theological depth
Masterful use of light and oil paint layering
The Ghent Altarpiece is also one of the most stolen artworks in history, having been looted multiple times, from Napoleon to the Nazis. The mystery of its missing Just Judges panel still captivates scholars and art lovers.
2. Arnolfini Portrait (1434)
Held in the National Gallery in London, this enigmatic double portrait is one of van Eyck’s most discussed and analyzed works. It features Giovanni di Nicolao Arnolfini, an Italian merchant, and presumably his wife, standing in a richly furnished room.
Why it stands out:
The mirror in the background reflects two additional figures, possibly van Eyck himself
Intricate symbolism: the dog (fidelity), the oranges (wealth/fertility), the single candle (divine presence)
The artist’s signature above the mirror reads: “Jan van Eyck was here 1434”, making it feel like a witness to a real event
This painting is a masterpiece not just of technique but of narrative ambiguity, sparking debates about whether it depicts a wedding, a betrothal, or a memorial.
3. Portrait of a Man (possibly a self-portrait) (1433)
Also called “Man in a Red Turban”, this is one of the earliest known formal self-portraits in European art. The direct, intelligent gaze and the detailed folds of the red chaperon make this a powerful and intimate image.
The Latin inscription on the frame reads: “As I Can”, van Eyck’s clever signature and possibly a nod to his own mastery.
4. The Madonna of Chancellor Rolin (c. 1435)
In this altarpiece, the Virgin Mary is seated on a throne with the infant Christ, while Chancellor Nicolas Rolin kneels in reverence. Set in an elaborate architectural and landscape background, the painting showcases van Eyck’s unmatched ability to blend religious and earthly realms.
It’s located in the Louvre Museum in Paris and is considered a precursor to the Italian Renaissance’s Madonna-and-donor portraits.
5. The Annunciation (c. 1434–1436)
Housed in the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., this work depicts the angel Gabriel delivering the news to the Virgin Mary. The use of architecture, color symbolism, and inscriptions in Latin give the painting a sense of divine formality and celestial order.
What Is the Most Expensive Jan van Eyck Painting?
Due to their rarity and cultural importance, Jan van Eyck’s paintings are not available on the private art market. Most are in museum collections and considered priceless.
However, were one to be sold, experts speculate that The Arnolfini Portrait or The Ghent Altarpiece (if it could ever be sold) could command hundreds of millions of dollars. Art economists have estimated values upwards of $250–$500 million for individual panels or complete pieces, making them among the most valuable in the world.
In fact, van Eyck’s works are so rare that any undisputed painting by him appearing at auction would likely break records.
How Many Paintings Does Jan van Eyck Have?
Only around 20 paintings are definitively attributed to Jan van Eyck. This small number is due to:
The fragility of panel paintings over centuries
Misattribution or loss over time
Collaboration with his brother Hubert or other workshop members
Here’s a breakdown:
Confirmed works: Approximately 20
Disputed/Workshop works: Around 10–15
Miniatures and drawings: A few illuminated manuscripts (e.g., the Turin-Milan Hours)
Van Eyck’s relatively small oeuvre has only added to the reverence with which each of his surviving works is treated.
Where Are Jan van Eyck’s Paintings Located Today?
His paintings are now scattered across major museums and churches in Europe and the United States:
Belgium
St. Bavo’s Cathedral, Ghent – The Ghent Altarpiece
Groeningemuseum, Bruges – Madonna with Canon van der Paele
United Kingdom
The National Gallery, London – The Arnolfini Portrait, Portrait of a Man (possibly Léal Souvenir)
France
The Louvre, Paris – The Madonna of Chancellor Rolin
United States
National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. – The Annunciation
Germany
Gemäldegalerie, Berlin – Madonna in the Church
Austria
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna – Portrait of Cardinal Niccolò Albergati
Each painting continues to be a magnet for scholars, artists, and tourists, drawing thousands annually who seek to marvel at van Eyck’s timeless precision.
The Legacy of Jan van Eyck
Jan van Eyck’s legacy is monumental. His innovations in oil painting, his unparalleled attention to detail, and his ability to fuse spiritual reverence with earthly realism laid the groundwork for generations of Northern European artists, including:
Rogier van der Weyden
Hans Memling
He was a forerunner to the realist movements in both portraiture and religious art. His influence extended even into the Italian Renaissance, with artists like Antonello da Messina adopting and adapting oil techniques.
Moreover, van Eyck helped elevate the status of the artist from mere craftsman to a figure of intellectual and creative authority. His signed paintings, rare in his era, asserted authorship and genius, a concept that would flourish in the Renaissance.
More than six centuries after his death, Jan van Eyck remains a giant in the history of art. His paintings are portals to a world both meticulously real and profoundly symbolic. In a time before photography, van Eyck captured not only the faces of his contemporaries but their souls, their environments, and their spiritual yearnings.
Whether gazing into the mysterious mirror of the Arnolfini Portrait or standing before the divine spectacle of the Ghent Altarpiece, viewers are struck by one truth: Jan van Eyck could paint the visible and hint at the invisible.
And that, perhaps, is the essence of his enduring genius.
