Before he became famous and was lured to Burgundy by Philip the Good, Jan van Eyck, who perfected the new oil painting medium, was hired by John III the Pitiless.
Q: Which painter is first recorded at the court of John of Bavaria in the Hague in 1422?
A: Jan Van Eyck
Jan van Eyck (born c. 1385 in Maaseik of Liège of the Holy Roman Empire and died c. 1441 in Bruges) was a Flemish painter who perfected the newly developed technique of oil painting. He is considered one of the great painters of the late Middle Ages.
A common misconception about van Eyck, which dates back to the 16th-century writings of the Tuscan historiographer Giorgio Vasari, is that van Eyck himself created oil painting. It is however true that he perfected new and remarkable effects with the technique of oil painting, blending realism with brilliant colors, and he could recreate any emotion. His naturalistic paintings, mostly portraits and religious subjects, make extensive use of disguised religious symbols.
Oil painting is especially suitable to depict many different surfaces and textures, from polished marble to sparkling gems, from soft velvet to hard highlights on metal, from modeling on pale skin to the bouncy ringlets of hair. Similarly, oil medium is able to show fleeting effects of moving clouds, sunlight passing through clouds, or rippling, transparent water.
In contrast, the medium of egg tempera that preceded oil painting results in a more detailed and somewhat brittle rendition of light, shade, and color. Egg dries fast into a relatively light tone, is suitable for bright colors, and must be applied thinly in quick, hatched strokes
Jan van Eyck’s masterpiece is the altarpiece in the cathedral at Ghent, the central section of which is known as “Adoration of the Lamb” (1432).
The date of van Eyck's birth is not known. The first extant record of van Eyck is from the court of John of Bavaria at The Hague (the Flemish seat of government). It dates to 1422 and mentions a payment to Jan van Eyck as court painter. John of Bavaria, known as John III the Pitiless, lived from 1374 to 1425 and was the first bishop of Liège before becoming Duke of Bavaria-Straubing and Count of Holland.
John of Bavaria earned the name John the Pitiless because of his relentless rulership of Liège. Several times, the people staged open revolt. Finally, the Burgundian duke John the Fearless came to John of Bavaria’s rescue with a considerable army. He sent the insurgent citizens flying and conquered them. Eight thousand rebels perished all at once. Between Liège and neighboring Maastricht, rebels hung from the trees in great numbers. The burgomaster (similar to the mayor) of Liège was beheaded and quartered on the square.
But, interestingly, John of Bavaria was known for his rich interests in culture and art. In 1417 he went to The Hague to rule Holland and he built on the efforts of the earlier rulers, allowing Holland to become a center of literary and musical creativity. In fact, he may have been the first ruler of Holland to invite artists to devote themselves to the services of the prince. This is further proven by his attracting to his court the not-yet-famous painter Jan van Eyck, even though shortly thereafter van Eyck was lured away by Philip the Good of Burgundy who recognized the artist’s vast talent.
Today van Eyck’s masterpiece, the multi-sectioned “Altar of Ghent,” can be viewed at St. Bavon's Cathedral (whose origins go back to 941 with the construction of a wood parish church) in Ghent.
Source:
Bailey, Colin J. The Art Quiz Book: 2000+ Questions on Painters and Paintings. Station Press: Scotland, 1995.
