The artwork, entitled “Giovanni Arnolfini and His Wife Giovanna Cenami (The Arnolfini Marriage) (detail),” was created by Jan van Eyck in 1434. This piece, painted with oil on wood, stands as a seminal work of the Northern Renaissance, specifically within the genre of portraiture. It is part of a series known as “The Arnolfini Marriage” and is currently housed in the National Gallery in London, UK.
The detail depicted in the artwork features a meticulously painted dog, showcasing Jan van Eyck’s masterful attention to fine details and textures. The dog, with its rich, brown fur, appears lifelike and is rendered with an exquisite level of realism, characteristic of the Northern Renaissance period. The background elements, including a wooden floor and a portion of green fabric that may belong to the garments of the figures, further emphasize the artist’s skill in creating a vivid and tangible environment, enhancing the overall narrative and historical context of the piece.
