Who was Hubert van Eyck?
Hubert van Eyck was an Early Netherlandish painter who lived from around 1385-90 until 1426. He was the older brother of Jan van Eyck and of two more painters in the family, Lambert and Margareta.
Questions about Hubert van Eyck
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did Hubert van Eyck die?
Hubert van Eyck died on or before the 18th of September 1426, probably still in his thirties. He was buried in Saint Bavo's Cathedral in Ghent.
What paintings is Hubert van Eyck credited with starting?
Hubert van Eyck is credited with beginning the Ghent Altarpiece and The Three Marys at the Tomb. Both works were likely completed by his brother Jan after Hubert's death.
Where was Hubert van Eyck born?
Hubert van Eyck was probably born in Maaseik, in what is now Belgium's Limburg province, around 1385-90.
Why is the Ghent Altarpiece connected to both Hubert and Jan van Eyck?
A frame inscription, destroyed in the Beeldenstorm of 1566, stated that Hubert, described as "greater than anyone," started the Ghent Altarpiece, and that Jan, calling himself second-best in the art, completed it in 1432.
How did historians' attribution of Hubert van Eyck's work change over time?
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, historians attributed most unsigned early works by Jan van Eyck to Hubert. That trend reversed by the mid-20th century, and Hubert's reputation has only partly recovered in recent decades, with specialists still divided.