Description of Jan van Eyck's Arnolfini Portrait

Arnolfini Portrait is a 1434 oil painting on wood by Jan van Eyck. The painting is a full-length portrait, the two main characters are Italian merchant Giovanni Arnolfini and his wife in the bedroom of their home.

Giovanni and his wife are gazing each other and the wife rests her hand in her husband's palm.  The small dog may also have been part of the couple's home. The two figures are very richly dressed, shows their wealthy family. The interior of the room has other signs of wealth. The brass chandelier  with a single candle burning is large and elaborate, it would have been very expensive. The very interesting thing is the convex mirror on the back wall, because viewers can see not only Arnolfini and his wife, but also two people who look into the room through the door. One of them should be the artist Jan van Eyck. And he wrote "Johannes de Eyck fuit hic 1434" above the mirror to announces he was present.

The painting has remarkable realism. Jan van Eyck used the technique of glazes to create a painting with an intensity of both tone and colour. Everything in this painting are exquisite. He carefully distinguished textures and light to show the space in an interior. Jan van Eyck use rich colours also help to highlight the realism, and to show Arnolfini's luxury lifestyle.

Great Equestrian Statues of the Italian Renaissance

Donatello's Gattamelata and Andrea Del Verrocchio's Bartolmmeo Colleoni

      Andrea Del Verrocchio's Bartolmmeo Colleoni, 1445-1453, Bronze,12'12" high

                 Donatello's Gattamelata, 1481-1496, Bronze, 13' high


The Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata is a sculpture by Italian early Renaissance artist Donatello , dating from 1453. Andrea Del Verrocchio's Bartolmmeo Colleoni1481-1496  is later than Gattamelata. Verrocchio and Donatello were contemporaries and it is likely that Verrocchio was heavily influenced by the Gattamelata.

Both of these statues are made to depict condottiere. And both statues sit on a pedestal, They have similar size(12'2" and 13") and both condottieros and the horses are portrayed in life size. They are both sit high on horse and hold a baton, so they looks majestic. The baton was a symbol of military leadership, further emphasizing their might and abilities. The simple depiction of the real people is enough to convey their power. Both statue not only reproduce the grandeur of ancient Rome, but also shows the characteristics of the early Renaissance. It's "realism", no   not "idealism".

The emotion on Gattemelata's face is very serious. Donatello portrays Gattamelata as a composed, alert and watchful leader, and  full of heroic mettle. He looked at the front and raised his baton. He seemed to command his soldiers and horse for fighting .The horse's front left hoof rests on an orb and it have a formal posture.

For Bartolmmeo Colleoni, notice his stern face. His head raised. He looks very courageous, and more arrogant. The character was wearing a hat and looking at the left front. He seemed to Inspect his troop The horse has a more natural posture, it slightly tilted head. It feet lifted a hoof with a natural angle, so the dynamic gait made it has more dynamic. This horse seems in a movement, it was aggressive and had so much strength.