Virtuosso Jan van Eyck Paints the Epitome of Beauty

'Van Eyck: An Optical Revolution' at the Museum of Fine Arts Ghent in Belgium

The “Annunciation Diptych,” circa 1433–1435, by Jan van Eyck. Oil on panel; Left: 15.3 inches by 9.1 inches, Right: 15.3 inches by 9.4 inches. Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum, Madrid. Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum, Madrid

Fifteenth-century Flemish painter Jan van Eyck’s art is simply astounding. Somehow van Eyck managed to paint so true to life that when you’re face-to-face with one of his paintings, once you’ve caught your breath, you may inadvertently mutter: “Surely, this must be real.”  

Observe any of van Eyck’s paintings—from his altarpieces to his portraits—and it’s easy to think that you are actually in the presence of the people he painted. Van Eyck’s biographer, humanist Bartolomeo Facio went so far as to say that all his portraits were so lifelike, all that was missing were the subjects’ voices.  

‘Van Eyck: An Optical Revolution’ 

Only 23 of van Eyck’s works are known to exist, and 13 of those works are on display in the exhibition “Van Eyck: An Optical Revolution” at the Museum of Fine Arts Ghent (MSK) in Belgium. Among those exhibited are works from van Eyck’s studio and copies of van Eyck’s lost works. This in itself offers an unprecedented opportunity to see his work, but in addition, the exhibition includes Italian Renaissance artwork by his contemporaries, such as Fra Angelico, Paolo Uccello, Pisanello, Masaccio, and Benozzo Gozzoli.