The Arnolfini Portrait By Jan Van Eyck

The Arnolfini Portrait by Jan Van Eyck is one of the most famous paintings shrouded in mystery. This picture depicts a wealthy couple holding hands in the bedchamber of their Flemish home. The couple is unidentified and many assume it is Giovanni di Nicolao Arnolfini a merchant from Bruges and his wife Costanza Trenta in 1426. The man is where is large black hat with a fur pull over with a black shit underneath and black shoes. The woman is where a white 14th-15th century styled headdress with a green and blue dress style dress which is holding up some extra fabric in her dress to simulate a pregnant belly. Behind the couple is a canopy bed draped in red cloth, a gold chandelier, mirror, table with three oranges, a detail rug, and outside the
Jan Van Eyck laid many hidden symbols in this painting that has showed the success wealth and fertility of the two. Beginning with the wealth being shown through the fur worn by both, the oranges, the large elaborate, chandelier, the oriental rug, and the glass window that appears to be stained. These are all commodities that could only be owned by the wealthy during this time. It is also noticeable that Constanza plucked the hairs in the front of her head to make her forehead appear larger since this was also a sign of beauty during this time. The chandelier was gold with high details. What stuck out to me the most was the one lit candle above Giovanni Di Nicolao Arnolifi. I believe this was to represent the passing and memorial of his late wife which as no lit candle above
The statue of St. Margaret could be an indication of pregnancy or wishful pregnancy during the marriage. I believe this is a symbolic way of suggesting fruitfulness in the marriage rather than an actual pregnancy. Considering, if the scholars guess is correct and it is Giovanni di Nicolao Arnolfini and his wife Costanza Trenta, I could be right since Constanza died without giving birth to any children. Also, as I stated before the stance she was in and the style of her clothes give the allure that she is pregnant but is just style that was popular since fertility was desirable during the time. But since this painting was done after Constanza pasted away, I believe that this could have been a memorial depicting what they wished could have happened. I cannot say if she was pregnant or died during pregnancy but I definitely believe this was supposed to symbolize wishful pregnancy before or after Constanta’s