The painting "Giovanni Arnolfini and His Bride" by Jan van Eyck is a piece that has a great deal of symbolism. Painted in 1434, it was created with oil on wood and is only 2'8" by 1'11". The piece is a wedding portrait and displays Van Eyck's love of detail. Details such as hair had to be done with a brush made of a single strand of hair.
             The work shows Arnolfini's wealth as a silk merchant. He wears a fur coat, appearing in a room of extravagant furnishings. He also wears a very large hat which was symbolic of wealth at the time. His hand position is important, swearing an oath of loyalty and fidelity. This begins the functioning of a legal document. That is in this case for marriage. The placing of hands was done and then sworn in front of a noted republic. In the mirror, one can see two other people, one the noted republic(in red), and Van Eyck(in blue) as a witnesses. He wrote; "Van Eyck was here" and dated the event.
             His bride is an example of what the ideal bride should be. Aristocratic women wore white headdresses and hair in horns. Women would pluck their forehead back one to two inches as another expression of prestige. The green dress is associated with fertility and her form shows future pregnancy. It was probably an arranged marriage and is important to show the premonition of childbirth. Due to the fact that children were important to the relationship. She looks down to show she is respectful and submissive. She is positioned by a whisk broom to show her future position at home and cleaning.
             Arnolfini is positioned by an open window to show how he will go out into the world and do business. The chandelier has one lit candle that they will blow out after they consummate their marriage. In the background, a statue of St. Margret is on the bedpost. She is the patron saint of childbirth and is yet another example of fertility. The dog is important because in Latin Fido means faithful/loyal. The fruit is ...