Question 1

True or false: Van Eyck's works were entirely secular, as he refused to paint religious subjects for the church.

Accepted Answer

False. He painted many religious masterpieces, including altarpieces and Madonnas, often blending sacred themes with realistic settings.

Question 2

True or false: Van Eyck's 'Arnolfini Portrait' includes a mirror that reflects two figures not visible in the main scene.

Accepted Answer

True. The convex mirror shows the entire room, including the painter and another figure, creating a clever visual puzzle.

Question 3

True or false: The Ghent Altarpiece was completed entirely by Jan van Eyck alone, with no help from his brother.

Accepted Answer

False. His older brother Hubert van Eyck started the altarpiece; Jan finished it after Hubert's death, per an inscription.

Question 4

True or false: Van Eyck signed many of his works with a personal motto, 'Als ich can' (As I can).

Accepted Answer

True. His signature often included this Flemish phrase, a humble nod to his skill, appearing on paintings like 'Portrait of a Man'.

Question 5

True or false: Jan van Eyck invented oil painting, a technique that revolutionized art in Northern Europe.

Accepted Answer

False. He perfected oil painting but didn't invent it; the technique existed earlier, though he mastered glazes and detail.

Question 6

True or false: Jan van Eyck painted with such precision that he could depict individual pores and reflections in tiny details.

Accepted Answer

True. His microscopic attention to texture, like stubble and jewels, was unmatched, aided by thin oil glazes and fine brushes.

Question 7

True or false: Van Eyck's 'The Madonna of Chancellor Rolin' features a hidden self-portrait of the artist in the background.

Accepted Answer

False. No self-portrait is confirmed; the figure is often misidentified—van Eyck's known self-portrait is in 'Portrait of a Man'.

Question 8

True or false: Jan van Eyck worked as a diplomat for the Duke of Burgundy, undertaking secret missions.

Accepted Answer

True. He was a valued courtier for Philip the Good, traveling on covert assignments, including arranging a marriage treaty.

Jan van Eyck Trivia Questions