Jan van Eyck- The Ghent Altarpiece - Adam (detail)

Jan van Eyck (c. 1390-1441) was a Flemish painter who is considered one of the most important artists of the Northern Renaissance. Born in Maaseik, Belgium, he worked mainly in Bruges, where he was court painter to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy. Van Eyck was known for his meticulous attention to detail and his use of oil paint, which allowed him to create rich, luminous colours and subtle gradations of light and shadow. He is best known for his religious paintings, including the Ghent Altarpiece (1432), considered one of the masterpieces of Western art. Van Eyck's influence can be seen in the work of many later artists, including Albrecht Dürer and Johannes Vermeer.