Jan van Eyck (1385? - 1441) was a 15th century Flemish painter
and one of the first to popularize oil paint. Jan belonged to
the Van Eyck family of painters and was a younger brother of
Hubert van Eyck. VAN EYCK'S YOUTH The date of his birth is not
more accurately known than that of his elder brother, but he was
born much later than Hubert van Eyck, who took charge of him and
made him his "disciple". Under this tuition Jan learnt to draw
and paint, and mastered the properties of colours from Pliny.
Later on, Hubert admitted him into partnership, and both were
made court painters to Philip of Charolais. After the breaking
up of the prince's household in 1421, Jan became his own master,
left the workshop of Hubert, and took an engagement as painter
to John of Bavaria, at that time resident at The Hague as Count
of Holland. From the Hague he returned in 1424 to take service
with Philip, now duke of Burgundy, at a salary of 100 livres per
annum, and from that time till his death Jan van Eyck remained
the faithful