Léal Souvenir: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added
m tw
No edit summary
Line 1:
[[File:Jan van Eyck 092.jpg|thumb|280px|''Léal Souvenir'', oil on oak, 33.3 cm × 18.9 cm. [[National Gallery]], London]]
'''''Léal Souvenir''''' (also known as '''''Timotheus''''' or '''''Portrait of a Man''''') is a small 1432 [[panel painting|oil on oak]] portrait by the [[Early Netherlandish painting|Early Netherlandish]] painter [[Jan van Eyck]]. The sitter has not been identified but given his individualistic features, the work is believed to be based on a historical person, rather than on a hypothetical ideal, as was unsual for the time.<ref name="S42">Smith, 42</ref> It is noted for the enigmatic expression of the sitter, and the apparent contradictions in his appearance and expression. While his features have been described as "plain and rustic", he looks thoughtful and inward looking; a number of art historians have detected a mournfulness in his expression, which [[Erwin Panofsky]] describes as possibly "loneliness". The panel was acquired in 1857 by the [[National Gallery]], London, where it is on permanent display.<ref>"[http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/jan-van-eyck-portrait-of-a-man-leal-souvenir/*/key-facts Portrait of a Man ('Léal Souvenir')]". [[National Gallery]]. Retrieved 20 April 2013.</ref>
 
The stone [[parapet]] at the base of the canvas contains three separate layers of inscriptions, each painted in an illusionistic manner to give the impression that they had been chiseled into stone.<ref name="p80">Panofsky, 80</ref> The first is in Greek and reads "TγΜ.ωΟΕΟς", which has not been satisfactorily interpreted but used by some art historians to title the work ''Timotheu''. The middle inscription contain the letters "Léal Souvenir" (''Loyal Memory'') indicating that the portrait was completed after the man's death and was probably intended as commemorative. The third records van Eyck's signature and the date of execution in an almost legalese manner, prompting some to think the man portrayed was involved in that profession.<ref name="B37">Bauman, 37</ref>