Jan van Eyck - Portrait of Cardinal Albergati 1435
Portrait of Cardinal Albergati 1435
34x29cm oil on wood
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria
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During a peace conference in Arras in 1435 van Eyck made a silver pen drawing (Dresden), in which he not only recorded the physiognomy of the aged cardinal and papal ambassador, but also noted color specifications. The painted portrait was created a short time later. The oil painting, i. contrary to the art-historical myth van Eyck did not invent the use of oil resins as binders. But he transferred the fine painting already brought to its heyday in illumination with the new, highly refined technique into the larger format of panel painting.