Portrait of a Man (Self Portrait?)
Jan van Eyck, 1433
Oil on oak panel, 10 1/4" x 7 1/2"
The National Gallery, London
As founder of the Netherlandish school of painting, Jan van Eyck produced remarkable images of precise, naturalistic detail and visual splendor. He is credited with refining the oil painting technique by applying many thin layers of translucent color glazes. Van Eyck's technical mastery enabled him to reproduce the visual world with convincing reality and brilliant, luminous color.

Van Eyck's contribution to portraiture also was significant. He presented his subjects in a naturalistic manner with life-like detail. The face was shown in three-quarter view and turned towards the light, allowing the features to be carefully modeled with subtle shadows. Van Eyck employed the novel device of having his sitter look directly out of the picture.

This portrait, possibly of van Eyck himself, is dramatic in effect. The subject appears to emerge from darkness, holding the viewer's attention with a penetrating gaze. The face and headdress display van Eyck's masterful skill in rendering the play of natural light over surface textures. [ Detail ]