Similarities Between Jan Van Eyck's Arnolfini Wedding And Durer

Symbolism is an important part of a person’s life. It gives things meaning and value. In the dictionary it defines symbolism as ‘The practice of representing things with symbols, or of investing things with a symbolic meaning or character’. Two painters from the Renaissance era, Jan Van Eyck and Albert Durer, had a great talent for bringing symbolism into their paintings. Jan Van Eyck was born in the Netherlands in 1395 A.D. He was a wonderful painter and was one of the first to master the art of oil paints. In fact, he was so good that he was the ‘King of Painters’. Jan Van Eyck’s, The Arnolfini Wedding, is a painting that holds several symbolistic qualities. Albert Durer, born in Nuremberg in 1471 A.D., was also a fabulous artist. He did many different kinds of artwork including painting, engraving, and writing. One of his most famous engravings, St. Jerome in His Study, is also rich in symbolism. Both the Arnolfini Wedding and St. Jerome in His Study are true masterpieces. In these two artworks we see that the painters were

and was of Nicolao Arnolfini and his wife. There are several symbolic items included in the painting which give the viewer a different understanding. You can also see how meticulous Jan Van Eyck was with the detail. Both the man and woman have their shoes off and have cast them aside, indicating that the event taking place is on holy ground. Also, the single lit candle in the chandelier and the reflection and the mirror represent the all seeing eye of God. The dog at the couple’s feet serves as a symbol of faithfulness and love. Lastly, the couple’s attire exemplifies both their social status and the favorable financial position that they were in. Although this is just a scratch on the surface, it gives an idea of how many symbols Jan Van Eyck slipped in his painting. Like Van Eyck, Albert Durer ties in several symbols that give the engraving more