The Goldsmith Jan de Leeuw
1436 | Jan van Eyck
The Flemish inscription on the original frame not only records the name and birth date of the person portrayed, it also reveals the painter and year of composition. It can be translated as follows: “Jan de (picture of a lion) first saw the light of the world on St. Ursula Day in 1401; I was painted by Jan van Eyck as is probably shown, when it happened in 1436.” Jan des Leeuw was working as a goldsmith in Bruges. He shows the viewer a ring thereby revealing the craftsman’s pride in his skill.
The Flemish inscription on the original frame not only records the name and birth date of the person portrayed, it also reveals the painter and year of composition. It can be translated as follows: “Jan de (picture of a lion) first saw the light of the world on St. Ursula Day in 1401; I was painted by Jan van Eyck as is probably shown, when it happened in 1436.” Jan des Leeuw was working as a goldsmith in Bruges. He shows the viewer a ring thereby revealing the craftsman’s pride in his skill.
Artist:
Jan van Eyck (um 1390 Maaseyck bei Maastricht - 1441 Brügge) DNB
Depiction/Person:
Jan de Leeuwe (1401 - 1456)
Time:
1436
Object Name
Painting
Culture
Early Netherlandish
Material/technology:
oak wood
Dimensions:
Overall: 24,6 x 19,2 cm, Panel size: 33 cm × 27,5 cm
Framed: 37 cm × 31,5 cm × 3,5 cm
Signed
on the original frame the inscription: IAN DE (picture of a lion) OP SANT ORSELEN DACH/DAT CLAER EERST MET OGHEN SACH. 1401 / GHECONTERFEIT NV HEEFT MIA IAN/VAN EYCK WEL BLIICT WANNEERT BEGA(N) 1436 +
Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie
Invs.
Gemäldegalerie, 946
Provenance
1783 documented in the gallery