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The Arnolfini Portrait dates from 1434. It was painted on an oak panel by Flemish artist Jan van Eyck and is also known as The Arnolfini Wedding, The Arnolfini Marriage, The Arnolfini Double Portrait or the Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and his Wife.
The perspective, detail and symbolism of the painting was remarkable for its time, most notably its use of non-Euclidean geometry in the reflective mirror on the back wall – which reveals the painter himself and a fourth “mystery” person.
Almost every detail can be interpreted as a symbol. The fruits on the window ledge for example suggest fertility and perhaps our fall from Paradise. The discarded shoes are believed to signify the fidelity and sanctity of marriage.
The dog
A small dog in the foreground is often seen as a symbol of faithfulness and love. In the version below, the dog is replaced with another object of great love and faithfulness.
It might be historically-incorrect for 1434 but imagine, what if Arnolfini had been a time-traveler like Dr. Who?
