The Arnolfini portrait was a good example of art in Northern Europe. The artist Jan Van Eyck was considered the greatest artist of his time, and it is apart in comparisons between his work and others representing the northern style. It depicts a couple standing in their bedroom. His use of disguised symbolism seamlessly integrates symbols into his work. The dog represents loyalty and fidelity while also being a status symbol because of the expensive breed. Also, the peaches on the table represent fertility which aligns with the positive and important qualities of a wife in this time period. He does this with so many of the objects in this work creating so much deeper meaning behind the painting without ruining the work.
Rogier van der Weyden was another oil painter who was the official painter of Brussels. His painting of “St. Luke Drawing the Virgin” depicts that moment. St. Luke is drawing in silver tip which alludes to the usage of this depiction as only a reference for another work. He also includes disguised symbolism. In the corner behind a door frame there is an ox which is the symbol of St. Luke. This symbolism is random unlike van Eyck’s. Also, this work was a much larger and didn’t showcase the extremely small details that was in the Arnolfini portrait. Overall, these differences show how Van Eyck was correctly regarded as the best of his time.
The first portrait of a place was done in Northern Europe by Conrad Wits. His work “The Miraculous Draught of Fishes” depicts a location in Geneva. Seeing St. Peter twice shows the multiple events that are taking place. The depiction of him in the water showing him sinking and needing help makes the political statement that the bishops should have more power.