"The Arnolfini Wedding Portrait" by Jan van Eyck, 1434
The Arnolfini Wedding is one of 15th century genius Jan van Eyck's outstanding and ingenious works. The painting is consumed with exciting hidden representations and symbols. This painting works on several levels; as a portrait of two leading members of society and as a record of their marriage. A few of the hidden symbols in this painting are the discarded shoes, which are a symbol that suggests a religious ceremony is taking place and the bare feet suggesting a sign of fertility concluding that this is in fact a ceremony of marriage. The oranges located on the windowsill was a luxury in Northern Europe therefore suggesting the couples wealth. Many symbols have duel meanings and oranges are not an exception. In this piece the oranges suggest the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, which refers to lust and the fall of man. Mankind's sinful instincts are sanctified through the Christian ritual of marriage therefore documenting this painting as a form of a legal certificate. Astonishingly, these are just a few of the many secrets hidden in this great painting. This painting is deciphered in great detail in the book "Taking the Mystery out of Reading Old Master Paintings" and will give you the answer to the paintings most notorious question, "IS THE ENCHANTING BRIDE PREGNANT?
