Where is Jan van Eyck's Portrait of a Young Man displayed?

The painting hangs at the National Gallery in London, where recent restoration removed centuries of yellowed varnish to reveal its original brilliance.

What do the inscriptions on this portrait mean?

The French phrase "LEAL SOVVENIR" means "Loyal Remembrance," while Greek letters spell Latin words meaning "then God." Scholars still debate their full significance.

When did Van Eyck paint this portrait?

Jan van Eyck precisely dated this work to October 10, 1432, carving the date in Latin into the painted stone parapet.

How large is this Van Eyck portrait?

The oil on oak panel is quite small, measuring just 33.4 by 19 centimeters (about 13 by 7.5 inches), with an unusually tall, narrow format.

Where Is Portrait of a Young Man? See It at National Gallery

Jan van Eyck completed this small but notable portrait on October 10, 1432, as noted in his Latin signature carved into the painted stone parapet. Also known as "Léal Souvenir" (Loyal Remembrance) or "Timotheus," the oil on oak panel measures just 33.4 by 19 centimeters yet contains layers of mystery that scholars continue to debate.

The tall, narrow format is unusual for Van Eyck. The young man wears a fashionable green chaperon and holds a scroll inscribed on its outer surface, possibly indicating a legal profession. Above Van Eyck's signature, large capitals spell "LEAL SOVVENIR" in French, while Greek letters at the top spell "TUM OTHEOS" in Latin, meaning "then God." The cracked, weathered stone parapet may allude to human mortality.

Recent restoration at the National Gallery in London removed centuries of yellowed varnish, revealing Van Eyck's original brilliance. The sitter's blue eyes now gleam again, and his hand holding the document projects forward with renewed three-dimensionality.