The Arnolfini Portrait is an oil painting on oak panel that measures 32.62in, currently hanging in the National Gallery, London, painted in 1434 by Jan van Eyck. It is also known as The Arnolfini Wedding, The Arnolfini Marriage, The Arnolfini Double Portrait or the Portrait of Giovanni Arnolfini and his Wife, among several other titles. At first glance, the painting is very realistic and depicts a man and a woman that are holding hands. The couple is obviously inside a room with a substantial amount of light coming through the windows, and the woman appears to be pregnant. The couple is assumed to be Giovanni di Arrigo Arnolfini and his wife Giovanna Cenami, although this has not been confirmed, and is supposedly painted in their bedroom. Van Eyck has many hidden meanings to the items in this painting. At a closer look the items become more apparent, such as the single candle burning in the chandelier. This is thought to symbolize marriage and presence of the Holy Spirit. A similar symbol is the convex mirror that hangs behind the couple and shows everything in the room including two witnesses. The mirror is decorated with circular scenes from Passion of Christ that represent God's promise of salvation for the figures reflected in the mirror. .
One of the people reflected in the mirror is thought to be the artist van Eyke himself because of the red turban and a Latin inscription above the mirror that translates to "I was here". These could symbolize that the painting is more than a painting but a type of marriage certificate. The way in which the couple is standing shows a conventional 15th century view on marriage and the roles. By the young woman standing next to the bed and being next to the man in the portrait shows her role as the caretaker while his position next to the open window shows that his role takes place outside of the house. Although the woman appears to be pregnant, she actually was not.
