Iconology

Jan van Eyck. The Arnolfini Wedding Portrait, 1434. Oil on panel. National gallery, London.

Let us begin by looking at the candelabra hanging from the middle of the room. There are two unusual things about it. First of all, only one one candle is on it, and the second thing is the fact that the candle is lit even though it is daytime (we can see daylight at the window).

Symbolically, it seems that this candle stands for presence of an all-seeing Christ, who is another, perpetual witness to the marriage.

If we look at the left corner and far center of the painting we can see that both Arnolfinis have removed their shoes. It seems odd, but if this has been done to suggest that marriage is a sacred institution and that the couple therefore standing on 'holy ground', the gesture begins to make much more sense.

The small dog in the down center may be much-loved family pet. It may also be a symbol of marital fidelity. Dogs have long been admired for their faithfulness. Which is one reason why 'Fido' is such a popular name for dogs. It comes from the Latin for 'faithful'.

If we look back at the mirror we can see that there is a string of crystal beads hanging to the left of the mirror. Mirrors and crystals have symbolic meaning of pureness and in this case can stand for Virgin Mary (a mirror without blemish) or even virginity itself. The fruit by the window may be symbolic of the Garden of Eden, while the apple in the windowsill may represent the reminder for the innocence that Adam and Eve enjoyed before their fall from grace.

The curtains on the bed appear to be drawn back ready for use. This leads us to Mrs. Andolfini's well-rounded stomach. To the modern eye, she looks pregnant, a condition that does not seem to rest well with a wedding portrait. There are two possible explanations of this. One is just the fashion in 15th century that makes mrs. Andolfini look like she's expecting a baby. The other explanation is more symbolic: her stomach may represent the possibility of having a baby after marriage, that makes much more sense.