The Arnolfini Portrait by Kara L.

Brown
Introduction
Task
Process
Evaluation
Conclusion
Teacher
Page
Introduction
We have just finished our unit on the Italian Renaissance, and now were
going to begin our unit on Northern Renaissance painting. We will being by
looking at one of the most famous and enigmatic paintings from this time.
An interactive investigation into the imagery found in Jan Vermeers painting,
The Arnolfini Portrait.
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/jan-van-eyck-the-arnolfini-portrait
Students will learn about the
history of the painting, they
will understand several
interpretations of Vermeer's
painting, and they will
express their own thoughts
about the artwork. This will
be in the form of a Personal
Response paper.

Task
Students will watch the following video:
https://www.smarthistory.khanacademy.org/giovanni-
arnolfini-and-his-bride
Students will visit the following websites:
www.nationalgallery.org/uk/paintings/jan-van-eyck-
the-arnolfini-portrait

www.studyarthistory.com/jan-van-eyck-arnolfini-
and-his-bride

Students will learn some facts about the
painting and the painter through these
resources. Through their investigations,
they will understand why the painting is
so intriguing. After watching the video
and surveying the websites, they will
answer questions to check their
understanding. Finally, students will
use this WebQuest to complete a
Personal Response Paper.

https://www.oneonta.edu/faculty/farberas/arth/Images/ARTH_214image
s/van_eyck/arnolfini/center.jpg
Process Part One
First, break into your assigned partner
groups to complete a Comprehension
Bookmark. Click on the following link,
watch the video, and answer the
following questions (each person
records on their own bookmarks):
https://www.smarthistory.khanacademy.
org/giovanni-arnolfini-and-his-bride
Where is the painting located?
Does it go by only one title?
Who are the people in the painting?
Where is the scene taking place?
What are some symbols and their interpretations?
What medium did van Eyck use? Discuss his
technique of paint application.
Discuss van Eycks use of color, perspective,
anatomy, texture, or other details
https://www.oneonta.edu/faculty/farberas/art
h/Images/110images/sl3images/vaneyck_arn
olfini_det.jpg
Process Part Two
Following the Comprehension
Bookmarks, visit the following websites,
and answer the following questions:
Who are the two people in the painting?
List at least three objects and explain
their symbolic meanings
From what you know of Renaissance art,
discuss the artists use of light, color and
brushstroke
Share two things you learned about the
artist
Is there anything historically significant
in or about the painting?
What have people discussed as possible
purposes/ functions of this painting? Is
one idea more agreed upon than others?
Share two interesting details about the
painting
Do you like the painting? Why or why
not?
What questions do you have about the
painting? Did you find the answers?
What more could you do to find those
answers?
www.nationalgallery.org/uk/paintings/jan
-van-eyck-the-arnolfini-portrait
www.studyarthistory.com/jan-van-eyck-
arnolfini-and-his-bride



Using these questions as
a guide, students will
individually write a
Personal Response Paper
Evaluation
Beginning
1
Developing
2
Qualified
3
Exemplary
4
Score
Student demonstrates
an understanding of
the painting and artist
by providing
background
information
Student includes no
background
information about the
painting and painter
Student includes 2
pieces of background
information about
EITHER the painting
or the painter
Student includes 2 pieces
of information about
BOTH the painting and
the painter
Student includes 3 or more
pieces of background
information about painting
AND the painter
Use of examples
(light, color,
brushstrokes)
Student provides no
examples from the
artwork in the paper
Student provides 2
examples from the
artwork in the paper
Student provides 3
examples from the
artwork in the paper
Student provides 4 or more
examples from the artwork
in the paper
Provides personal
opinions
Student provides no
personal opinions
about the artwork
Student provides 1
personal opinion
about the artwork

Student provides 2
personal opinions about
the artwork

Student provides 3 or more
personal opinions about the
artwork

Personal
interpretation of
artwork and reason
behind it
Student provides no
personal
interpretation of
artwork
Student provides 1
sentence
interpretation of
artwork with no
reasoning
Student provides 1
sentence of interpretation
of artowrk with 1
sentence of reasoning
Student provides 2 or more
sentences of interpretation
with 2 or more sentences of
reasoning
Acceptable grammar,
punctuation and
spelling
Student has many
grammar,
punctuation and
spelling mistakes
Student has many
mistakes in either
grammar,
punctuation or
spelling
Student has few mistakes
overall in grammar,
punctuation and spelling
Student has nearly no
mistakes in grammar,
punctuation and spelling
Understandable Majority of student
work is not
understandable
Many (3-5) sentences
are not
understandable
Few (1-2) sentences are
not understandable
All sentences are
understandable
Conclusion
Now you know a lot of information about Jan
van Eyck and his famous painting The
Arnolfini Portrait.

I hope this WebQuest has stirred your interest
in the painting. It should have shown you
why so many people around the world have
made their own interpretations, just as you
have, when studying the various facets that
must be considered when developing an
interpretation and opinion of this painting.

If you would like to learn more about the
painting, you can find more information
HERE
https://www.oneonta.edu/faculty/farberas/arth
/arth214_folder/van_eyck/arnolfini.html

http://mattressessale.eu/tag/giovanni-arnolfini-and-his-bride
Teacher Page - Resources
https://www.smarthistory.khanacademy.org/giovanni-arnolfini-and-his-bride

www.nationalgallery.org/uk/paintings/jan-van-eyck-the-arnolfini-portrait

www.studyarthistory.com/jan-van-eyck-arnolfini-and-his-bride

I created this WebQuest to introduce students to Jan van Eycks famous painting The Arnolfini Portrait. I
used a combination of video and text for students to explore in order to create their own Personal
Response Papers. The first portion of the project includes partner work for the stud

I wanted students to engage in a research and writing activity in which they not only learned about
existing interpretations of the work, but also evaluated technical and interpretive aspects of the
painting for themselves.