Eyck, Jan van c.1389-1441
Flemish painter

He was born near Maastricht, and nothing is known of his training. He was successively in the service of John of Bavaria, Count of Holland, and Philip, the Good, of Burgundy, for whom he undertook diplomatic missions in Spain and Portugal. From 1431 he lived in Bruges. All the works which can be definitely attributed to him date from the last 10 years of his life. During this period there is evidence of his increasing wealth and importance as court painter, diplomat and city official. His style is created from a meticulous attention to detail, accuracy in rendering textures and realistic light effects, and his oil-technique attained near-perfection. There are three works by him in the National Gallery, London, including the Man in a Red Turban (1433), which some have thought to be a self-portrait, and the mysterious Arnolfini marriage portrait. By far his most famous work is the altarpiece The Adoration of the Holy Lamb (1432) in the church of Saint Bavon, Ghent, which consists of 24 panels. He is regarded as the greatest Flemish artist of the 15th century.