Renaissance

Near the beginning of the Renaissance Jan van Eyck painted his piece Giovanni Arnolfini and His Bride. It is the witnessing of a marriage. From this one small painting we can learn a few things about was was important in a marriage during this times. The fact that there is even a painting portraying the even is significant in that fact that it was important enough to document. This shows that marriage was an important and special event in society in this time. This is also shown by the sandals in the painting which symbolizes a sacred event. Also at the bottom of the painting there is a dog which is a symbol of fidelity and domestic peace. This shows that a husband and wife were expected to be faithful in a marriage and have a peaceful marriage.