Page:Cyclopedia of painters and paintings (IA cyclopediaofpain02cham).pdf/53

 the great altarpiece in the Church of St. Bavon (now St. John), Ghent—the Adoration of the Lamb, which he painted for Jodocus Vydt, a rich patrician of Ghent. The following portions, as differing in drawing, colouring, cast of drapery, and treatment from the style of Jan, as recognized in his other works, may be safely assigned to Hubert, namely: the Almighty, the Virgin, St. John the Baptist, from the upper inner series, and the great picture of the Adoration of the Lamb, being the central portion of the lower series, in the Church of St. Bavon, Ghent; St. Cecilia and Angels playing on musical instruments, Berlin Museum; both the upper outside wings, with Adam and Eve, Brussels Museum. The side of the centre picture with the Apostles and Saints, and the wings with the hermits and pilgrims, with the exception of the landscapes, are also attributed to Hubert Van Eyck. The altarpiece in its entirety is one of the most wonderful works of art in the world.—Biog. nat. de Belgique, vi. 775; Carton, Les trois Frères Van Eyck (Brussels, 1848); Eastlake, Materials; Eisenman, The Brothers Van Eyck, 209; Dohme, li.; Ch. Blanc, École flamande; C. & C., Flemish Painters, 34; Allgem. d. Biogr., vi. 778; Förster, Denkmale, iii. 15; vi. 17; do., Gesch., ii. 64; Immerzeel, i. 226; Kramm, ii. 448; Michiels, ii. 83; Schnaase, viii. 103; W. & W., ii. 8.

EYCK, JAN VAN, born at Maaseyck about 1381, died in Bruges July 9, 1440. Flemish school. Jan and his elder brother Hubert are supposed to have been court-painters to Philip de Charolois, afterwards Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, who, with his wife, Michelle de France, resided at Ghent between 1418 and 1421. In October, 1422, Jan entered the service of Duke John of Bavaria as "painter and varlet," at The Hague, and after his death (May 19, 1425) re-entered that of Duke Philip in the same capacities. During the next three years he lived at Lille, whence he was sent by the Duke, Oct. 19, 1428, to Portugal, to paint the portrait of his affianced bride, the Princess Isabel. At Christmas, 1429, Jan returned to Flanders with the Princess, and settled at Ghent to complete the great altarpiece of the Adoration of the Lamb, left unfinished by his brother Hubert. Having accomplished this work in 1432, he established himself at Bruges, where, in consideration of his great merit, the Duke exempted him from taxes, and in 1434 honoured him by becoming godfather to his daughter Lyennie. Authorities differ as to what part of the great altarpiece in the Cathedral of St. Bavon at Ghent was painted by Jan after his brother's death. The question is the more difficult to decide, as it is Hubert's one authentic work. Many pictures by Jan exist, and these when compared with the altarpiece have led Woltmann to conclude that only the paintings on the outer shutters, Berlin Gallery, are by him. They consist of the Annunciation and the Prophets and Sibyls who foretold the event, and of four figures in niches, two of which in monochrome represent Gothic statues of SS. John the Baptist and the Evangelist, and two in colour, the kneeling donors, Jodocus Vydt and his wife, Frau Lisbet Barlut. To these as Jan's work are added in Kugler's Handbook (Crowe) the wing picture with the singing angels of the upper series on the inner side, the side of the centre picture of the Adoration of the Lamb containing the Patriarchs and Prophets, etc., and the entire landscape, the wing with the soldiers of Christ and the Righteous Judges, and the landscapes to the wing with the hermits and pilgrims. Other works by Jan are the Consecration of Thomas à Becket