Page 1 Art 365
(All the knowledge in the world becomes mine)
Author Kim Young-sook
Publishing Big Fish
28.JUL.2021
#36. Portrait of the Arnolfini couple
1434, 82x60cm, owned by the National Gallery, London.
The perspective invented by Italians played a major role in the remarkable development of Renaissance art.
The oil paintings created by the brothers of Flemish painter Jan van Eyck (1395–1441) also contributed greatly to the realistic characteristics of Renaissance art. Oil paints were made by grinding up mineral substances and mixing them with terrapin oil easily to create a variety of colors and played a big role in improving the completeness of paintings as they could be modified by adding more paint even if they were not dry.
The 10 circles that decorate the mirror frame contain scenes of Jesus’ passion one after another. The letters drawn between the mirror and the chandelier mean 1434, I am Jan van Eyck, and the artist himself is depicted drawing a couple reflected in the mirror. Delicately.
#42. Leda and the Swan, Tintoretto
1550–2560, 167x221cm, Uffizi Gallery, Florence
Leda was the queen of Sparta. Zeus disguised himself as her swan and raped her. On that day, she had four children, one of whom was Helena, who fell in love with the Trojan prince despite being married, sparking the Trojan War between Sparta and Troy.
This painting, which has the overall tone down as if the saturation has been lowered, shows that Tintoretto had a high understanding of color.
