In this paper I will be completing an iconographic analysis of the painting Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and His Wife (1434) by Jan van Eyke, but first I wanted to explain what iconography is. The general definition for iconography is a branch of art history that focuses on identification, description, classification, and interpretation of different artistic pieces and time periods. When looking in the Anno Domini Glossary which deals with terms in a more Christian context, it describes iconography as how the actual pieces of art or different symbols found within the pieces of art are representatives of Christian ideas, people, and history.

I think that iconographic analysis of images are important to art historians because it helps give a ... Showed first 120 words of 1042 Size (words) ...

... Continuing with another 115 out of 1042 Size (words) ...with circular scenes from Passion of Christ that is meant to bless the couple and the other two people in the room.

One of the people reflected in the mirror is thought to be the artist van Eyke himself because of the red turban and also a Latin inscription above the mirror that translates to "I was here". Even that could symbolize that the painting is more than a painting but a type of marriage certificate.

After reading all of the information on this painting and finding out the meanings of all the objects placed in the picture, the picture became much more interesting to me. Initially I took the picture as a family ...Essay still continues 100 more words...