Stella's Art Blog

            Jan Van Eyck was a Netherlandish painter who immersed himself in studying the techniques of oil painting. He lived from 1390 c to July 1441. During his life, he lived in Belgium and mastered the ways of oil paints. He was mainly focused on religious pictures and portraits of people, but was also known for his use of symbolism. In his painting Arnolfini Portrait , a woman and her husband are seen in their bedroom with a little dog. At first glance, it seems like an average portrait, but if closer inspected, small and incredible details are hidden throughout the piece. An example of this is the mirror on the wall of the room- if looked at closely, the viewer can see the reflection of the husband, wife, and Jan Van Eyck himself.

        Giotto (full name Giotto di Bondone) was a painter. He lived from 1270-1337. He came from Italy, and was known for his religious paintings. In this painting by Giotto, Jesus is seen dead being mourned by his mother Mary and his followers. Angels from above are seen flying down to see him. This piece was created in 1305.  Giotto uses emphasis to make Jesus stand out, as he is the center of attention in the piece. He also uses contrast between the bright gold of the halos and the dark grays of the background. The halos help the people stand out from the background.  After observing this piece closely, I found the angels quite strange. Their heads are disproportionate to their bodies, and their faces are exaggerated and morphed.