Selected Articles from
The Gull Archives

If you would like to submit an article for The Gull, please contact the Chronicler.

A Tidbit from History

'The prosperity of Flanders throughout the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, the love of lavish display which was a family characteristic of the members of the House of Burgundy, and the desire of the wealthy Flemish burghers to follow the lead of their sovereigns and surround themselves with rich and beautiful things, drew to the Flemish towns merchants and businessmen from all the countries of Europe. The finest fabrics made on the looms in Florence and Lucca were sent to Bruges to be sold. There is a legend that the reredos of green-and-gold brocade which van Eyck painted as a sumptuous background for the Madonna was woven by the Arnolfinis in Lucca for [Duke] Phillip the Good [of Burgundy). The Arnolfinis played a prominent role in Flanders in the fifteen century. Giovanni Arnolfini made a huge fortune in silks, velvets, furs, spices, ornaments, jewels, and works of art. It is said he introduced to Flanders the gold brocades which had been first manufactured in Italy in the fourteenth Century.

'The Medici maintained an office of their banking business in Bruges."

Source: The Last Flowering of the Middle Ages by Baron Joseph Van Der Elst, first edition. page 15.

And now I can stop wondering why so many portraits of Italians were painted by Flemish painters. The Italians were up there on business.

NOTE:

Copyright of each article belongs to the original author. Reproduction rights are not given by virtue of their appearance here.