Jan Van Eyck was born before 1395. He was a Flemish painter who perfected the technique of oil painting that was newly developed. His paintings, mostly religious paintings and portraits, were naturalistic and made extensive disguised religious symbols. His masterpiece is the Adoration of the Lamb, altarpiece in the cathedral at Ghent.
Jan Van Eyck became the honorary painter and equerry of John of Bavaria, count of Holland. He continued to work in the palace of The Hague until 1425 when count died. He was later summoned to Lille to serve Philip, the duke of Burgundy, the foremost patron and the most powerful ruler of the arts in Flanders. On behalf of his sponsor, Jan Van Eyck undertook a number of secret missions during the next decade. The most notable of which were two journeys to the Iberian Peninsula, the first was in 1427 and the second in 1428 – 1429. In the first trip he was trying to contract a marriage for Philip with Isabella, while in the second trip he was seeking the hand of Isabella of Portugal. Jan Van Eyck may have participated directly in these marriage negotiations being a confidant of Philip, he was also charged to present the duke with a portrait of the intended.
Jan’s style was characterized by the use of biblical references and symbolism, and bold realism and luminous oil technique that he must have learnt from Campin. In 1431, he Jan purchased a house in Bruges where he continued to paint and in 1436 he again made a secret voyage for Philip. Jan died in 1441 and was buried in the Church of Saint-Donatian, in Bruges. His artistic works continue to sell widely. Framed Jan Van Eyck art are available in galleries and art dealerships and are provided ready for installation.