The artwork, titled “The Cumaean Sibyl,” was crafted by Jan van Eyck in 1432 using oil on panel. This piece is a representative creation of the Northern Renaissance art movement and falls within the genre of mythological painting. The notable work is housed in St. Bavo Cathedral, located in Ghent, Belgium.
The artwork depicts a serene female figure, presumed to be the Cumaean Sibyl, a prophetic priestess from Roman mythology. The figure is adorned with elegant attire and a delicate headdress, exuding a sense of grace and authority. Surrounding her head, an inscribed scroll carries a Latin script, enhancing the mythological and historical context of the piece. She is framed within an arched panel, which provides a distinguished enclosure to her figure. The attention to detail, the realistic rendering of textures, and the soft play of light and shadow are characteristic of Jan van Eyck’s mastery in oil painting, emblematic of the Northern Renaissance style.
