Isabella of Portugal by Jan van Eyck

In 1428-1429, Philip, the Good, duke of Burgundy, decided to send Jan van Eyck (ca. 1395-1441) to Portugal to paint Infanta Isabel, his bride. Because of the plague, the Portuguese court was itinerant, so van Eyck painted two pictures of the princess in the castle of Aviz (her father had been a Master of this Order). The princess was the granddaughter of the Duke of Lancaster and was the mother of Charles, the Bold. The paintings were lost, but some artists were inspired by the paintings to perform other works. In van Eyck's later works there are memories of the Castle’s site and the Lisbon Cathedral.

Filipe, o Bom, duque da Borgonha, decidiu enviar (1428-1429) Jan van Eyck (ca 1395-1441) a Portugal para pintar a Infanta Isabel, sua noiva. Por causa da peste a corte portuguesa era itinerante de modo que van Eyck pintou dois quadros da princesa no castelo de Aviz, de cuja Ordem seu pai fora Mestre. A princesa era neta do duque de Lancaster e foi mãe de Carlos, o Temerário. As pinturas perderam-se, mas alguns artistas basearam-se nelas para outros trabalhos. Na obra posterior de van Eyck há recordações da zona do Castelo e Sé de Lisboa.

after Jan van Eyck (ca 1395-1441)-'Isabella (1397-1471) and Philip, the Good'-oil on panel-ca 1430   Ghent-Museum voor Schone Kunsten

attr. Workshop Rogier van der Weyden (ca 1400-1464)-'Isabella of Portugal'-oil on panel-(ca 1445-1450)   Malibu-J. Paul Getty Museum

Netherlandish painter (mid-15th century)-'portrait of a noblewoman, probably Isabella of Portugal'-oil on panel   New York-Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jan van Eyck (ca 1395-1441) copy-'Isabella of Portugal'-drawing-17th century   Lisboa-Arquivo Nacional da Torre do Tombo