Saint John the Baptist
Jan van Eyck, the godfather of oil painting, gives Saint John the Baptist a makeover with a robe so lustrous and green it looks like liquid emerald. That golden halo isn't just for show—it's packed with Latin text acting like a medieval billboard proclaiming his holiness. You can see Van Eyck's obsession with detail in the jeweled clasp and the fluffy fur trim, techniques he perfected to make figures look almost photographic centuries before cameras existed. The saint stands barefoot on a tiled floor, clutching a book, looking ready to drop some serious Renaissance wisdom.
- Technique
- Oil on panel
Location: Saint Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent
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