Jan van Eyck is the most famous Flemish primitive. In the early 15th century, he was court painter to the Burgundian duke Philip the Good. After the world-famous Ghent Altarpiece, this is his largest surviving work. In the centre we see Mary with child. Flanked on the left by St. Donatian, the patron saint of the Bruges church for which Van Eyck painted this masterpiece. On the right by patron canon Joris van der Paele and his patron saint St. George.
Van Eyck's realism is impressive. The details are razor-sharp. Note the reflections in St. George's helmet and armour.
The frame is original and includes the artist's name, very innovative for the 15th century.
MASTERPIECE
Discover more about this masterpiece in the video.
Subjects
Opschriften
bijbelcitaat (boven op lijst): HEC E[ST] SPECIOSOR SOLE + SVP[ER] O[MN]EM STELLARV[M]DISPOSIC[I]O[N]EM LVCI [COM]PA[RA]TA I[N]VE[N]ITVR P[R]IOR. CA[N]DOR E[ST] ENI[M] LVCIS ETERNE. + SPEC[V]L[V]M S[I]NE MAC[V]LA D[E]I, MAIES[TA]TIS.
inscriptie (links op lijst): SOLO P[AR]TV NON[VS] FR[ATRVM. MERS[VS]VIV[VS] REDDIT[VR] + RENAT[VS] ARCH[IRPISC]O[PV]S PR[I]M[VS]. REMIS CONSTITVITVR QVI NV[N]C DEO FRUITVR.
inscriptie (rechts): NATVS CAPADOCIA XP[IST]O MILITAVIT. MVNDI FVG[I]E[N]S OCIA. CESVS TRUMPAVIT. HIC DRACONEM STRAVIT.
naam geportretteerde, functie geportretteerde, huismerk en datering (onderaan): Hoc op[us] fecit fieri mag[iste]r Georgi[us] de Pala hui[us] ecclesie canoni[ci] p[er] iohanne[m] de eyck pictore[m]. Et fundauit hic duas capell[an]ias de g[re]mio chori domini. m.cccc.xxxiiij. c[om]p[le]t[um] au[tem]. 1436
inscriptie (onderaan): S[AN]C[TV]S DONACIANVS ARCHIEP[IS]C[OPVS].
inscriptie (onderaan): S[AN]C[TV]S GEORGIVS MILES C[H]R[IST]I.
inscriptie (links): a[...]
inscriptie (links onderaan): XP ihs
inscriptie (rechts): ADONA[I]
Dimension
geheel, height: 124.5 cm
geheel, width: 160 cm
met lijst, height: 148 cm
met lijst, width: 184 cm
met lijst, depth: 7.5 cm
met lijst, gewicht: 53.9 kg
zonder lijst, depth: 1.7 cm
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Copyright
Musea Brugge is committed to making its data available as usable open data. Images of works of art which are not subject to copyright restrictions are therefore published under the Creative Commons Zero licence. These may be used freely.