DAY 285

A PICTURE’S WORTH 1000 200 WORDS

The Arnolfini Marriage

JAN VAN EYCK, 1434

This painting is commonly interpreted as the portrait of a wedding between a rich Italian merchant, Giovanni Arnolfini, and his wife Giovanna Cenami. Evidence for this lies throughout the painting, and it’s all easy to spot—if you’re familiar with symbolism of the 15^th century.

Weddings at the time of this painting were rarely carried out in religious ceremonies but were typically low-key events at which the couple signed a legal contract in front of two witnesses. Upon close inspection of the mirror on the back wall, there are two people reflected—one of whom is perhaps van Eyck himself. Could these two people have served as the necessary witnesses? The English translation of a Latin inscription below the chandelier reads, “Jan van Eyck was here, 1434.” Normally a work of art completed at this time would have been signed, “Jan van Eyck made this.” The exception here suggests that the artist bore witness to the events in the painting.

Also embedded in this painting are symbols of loyalty (the dog) and fertility (the green color of Giovanna’s dress and the bed), among many other symbols revolving around marriage. Sadly, however, the couple never had children. —DDG