Les van Eyck: maîtres constructeurs du Temple de la Sagesse à Liège

Abstract

This posthumous work develops the hypothesis of Jean Lejeune who saw in the painting of the Madonna and Child with Chancellor Rolin a panorama of Liège and a portrait of its prince, Jean de Bavière. Van Eyck was in effect in his service before working for Philippe le Bon. He was beginning his career in Liège. Rather than a rich chancellor we might see here a monarch thanking heaven for allowing him to suppress one of a number of populist Liège revolts. Curvers develops this thesis and discovers a symbolism in which the brothers Van Eyck created subtle correspondances between Liège and the promised land.