Question

Much has been written about the meaning and importance of Jan van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait. Which of the following is NOT associated with this work ? _____i_____

i. The painting serves as a marriage certification at a time when marriage ceremonies did not require witnesses and it was difficult to prove whether a marriage was legitimate.
ii. The painting is filled with spiritual and religious symbols and iconography that relate
to marriage.
iii. Giovanni Arnolfini signed his name above the mirror in the center of the
image to validate the marriage.
iv. Because of their solemn faces, the painting may be a memorial portrait.

Answer 1

The statement that Giovanni Arnolfini signed his name above the mirror in Jan van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait is incorrect. The painting features Jan van Eyck's own inscription above the mirror and various symbols of marriage, wealth, and spirituality, but no signature from Arnolfini himself.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertaining to Jan van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait poses several assertions regarding the artwork’s features and the artists’ intentions. Option iii suggests that Giovanni Arnolfini signed his name above the mirror to validate the marriage, which is not associated with this work. In actuality, while the painting is rich in detail and iconography, there is no evidence that Arnolfini himself signed above the mirror. Instead, Jan van Eyck included a text above the mirror that reads 'Jan van Eyck was here 1434,' serving as a sort of signature or assertion of the artist's presence, rather than a validation of marriage by Arnolfini.

The Arnolfini Portrait is indeed filled with symbols related to marriage and spirituality, and its detailed depiction of the subjects’ attire and domestic setting may relay their wealth and social status. It has also been argued that it serves as a sort of document to the marriage because of the lack of formal marriage certificates at the time, and while the solemn faces of the subjects have inspired various interpretations, it is not widely accepted as a memorial portrait.