Skip to main content

The Infra-red Reflectograms of Jan van Eyck's Portrait of Giovanni(?) Arnolfini and his Wife Giovanna Cenami(?)

Rachel Billinge and Lorne Campbell
Technical Bulletin Volume 16, 1995

Abstract

A composite infrared reflectogram of The Arnolfini Portrait and many details from it showing the artist's alterations are presented and discussed; some are enhanced by colour images of the painting. There are numerous changes to the faces and to the positions of hands and feet, which are discussed in relation to Van Eyck's portraiture. Many architectural details, long considered to have symbolism central to the portrait, turn out to have been painted at a late stage, without underdrawing.

Keywords 

infrared reflectography, Jan van Eyck, paintings (objects), reflectograms

Download article

The Infra-red Reflectograms of Jan van Eyck's Portrait of Giovanni(?) Arnolfini and his Wife Giovanna Cenami(?), Rachel Billinge and Lorne Campbell (PDF 13.01MB)

To cite this article we suggest using

Billinge, R., Campbell, L. 'The Infra-red Reflectograms of Jan van Eyck's Portrait of Giovanni(?) Arnolfini and his Wife Giovanna Cenami(?)'. National Gallery Technical Bulletin Vol 16, pp 47–60.
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/technical-bulletin/billinge_campbell1995

Problems opening files? Get Adobe Reader [External link]