Unless you have a time machine, this one makes no sense.

Added: 2026-05-14

[00:00:00]Talk to the hand.

[00:00:02]>> Excuse you.

[00:00:03]>> Oh my god. Hi guys. Welcome to my channel.

[00:00:06]>> Well, isn't this an awkward portrait?

[00:00:08]Who are these people? Why did Van Ike feel the need to let us know he was there? And can someone take that dog out for a walk? He doesn't look so hot.

[00:00:16]>> Didn't I tell you?

[00:00:17]>> I got it. Chill out.

[00:00:29]This is the Arnoldeni portrait made in 1434 by Yan Van Ike. The estimation was that this is Giovanni Arnoldfeni, a wealthy Italian merchant and his second wife, Giovana, and that this portrait was an engagement hard launch. And no, it was not a shotgun wedding. This was a common stance of women in portraits to symbolize fertility.

[00:00:56]And these are additional elements that are showing us that this is a soontobe fertile union between a man and his wife. Nice story, huh?

[00:01:05]Well, here's the problem. In 1997, new information came out. Giovanni and his second wife Giovana were married in 1447, 13 years after the painting was made and 6 years after Van Ike passed away.

[00:01:23]>> Hell no, girl. The math is not mathing.

[00:01:27]>> The woman in the portrait cannot be Jovana Arnoldini.

[00:01:31]Then who is she?

[00:01:33]>> Keep going. This is better than The Secret Lives of Mormon wives. The main theory now is that the woman is actually Giovanni's first wife, Costanza, who died a year before the portrait was made.

[00:01:45]>> Wait, so they were already married? This is not an engagement portrait.

[00:01:50]>> Correct. This is believed to be a death portrait. And let me show you why.

[00:01:56]Starting with the dog at Costanza's feet. Dogs and art often symbolize loyalty, akin to the loyalty in marriage, which would go along with the idea that this is a wedding portrait.

[00:02:07]However, also at this time in history, unfortunately for pets, they were customarily buried with their owners and believed to move on to the next life with them. The dogs were depicted in graves at the feet of the deceased, just like here.

[00:02:24]The chandelier has six candle spots, but only two are used. His candle was lit, while hers seems to be smothered out, showing that his lifelight is still burning, while hers no longer is.

[00:02:38]Visible in the window is a Japanese cherry blossom tree. This tree blooms once a year and at its essence is temporary.

[00:02:47]Many believe that this is an allegory to life. One more element is the convex mirror. A cutting edge technology in 1434. It could be just a sign of wealth.

[00:02:58]But at that time in art, mirrors were also associated with subjects of death as one looks into the mirror to reflect on one's death.

[00:03:07]Creepy, huh? Think of that next time you're flossing. Lastly, around the mirror, there are 10 roundells depicting 10 stations in Jesus's life. The five that are at Castanza's side are associated with his death and resurrection.

[00:03:24]While on his side, you know, the fun stuff.

[00:03:31]So, now that we allegedly explained who they were, let's take a look at the portrait elements. Van Djk did not shy away from detailing all the ways in which the Arnoldeni couple were part of the upper class. At first look, we might not see the usual aristocratic ass presence, but don't let the lack of golden gems fool you. Like a golden tooth in the mouth of a rapper, the details tell a different story. These punks are full of bling.

[00:03:59]Starting with Costanza Giovani, red, green, and black fabric dyes were the most expensive dyes at the time. Now, that can mean that they are extremely wealthy or that this video is sponsored by Giovani's Fabrics.

[00:04:23]In all seriousness, Giovani was a successful fabric merchant, so it probably was an element that was important to display as well. Costanza wears a long green dress. This amount of fabric was extremely expensive in the 1400s, and it is also safe to assume the dress's long train requires a servant to carry its weight. Blue, the color of royalty, is conveniently peeking under her gown. The interior of her jacket is lined with expensive fur. Never mind the fact that this is a sunny summer day outside. Her dress is lined with minver, white fur made from the underbelly of squirrels, 2,000 of them to be exact. As customary for married women, her hair was covered.

[00:05:08]>> Are those horns under her veil?

[00:05:10]>> Kind of, but she's no devil, you see.

[00:05:13]She was simply following the Venetian fashion trend of braiding her hair into coronets placed at each temple.

[00:05:20]I know it's questionable. Questionable?

[00:05:24]Seriously, have you ever seen a beehive?

[00:05:27]Along with an extremely high hairline and shaved eyebrows, this hairstyle was all the rage. Giovani is dressed in a furlined black coat, rich plum, and his hat made from dyed straw was also the latest fashion at the time. Their clothes are expensive, yet show some restraint. Furniture was a luxury many could not afford. The Arnold fenies not only had plenty of furniture, but they were flaunting it, like their life depended on it.

[00:05:58]>> Hey, check out this bed. I don't even sleep in it. The presence of the bed makes it seem like they're in a bedroom.

[00:06:05]However, in the mirror reflection, we can tell there are guests in the room.

[00:06:10]Therefore, we know that this is a foyer, a reception room to receive guests and display wealth. A bed was a particularly big flex because it was the most expensive type of furniture in the medieval time.

[00:06:24]>> Bingo.

[00:06:26]She's good.

[00:06:28]imported oranges, oriental carpet, the high upholstered chair meant for guests, the chandelier, an item that was rarely seen in private households at the time, all of these elements suggest their fortune. It is subtle, but definitely there.

[00:06:46]Okay, so if we follow the narrative in which this is a portrait of Giovani and his expired wife, why are there so many people who believe this is a wedding portrait? And who cares about their wealth?

[00:06:57]>> Well, the elements Van Ike chose to display in the room also represent the union between the two. The rosary was a common gift from a man to his wife.

[00:07:08]Their hands, the statue of the woman on top of a dragon, is suggested to be St. Martha, patron of housewives. And finally, the brush hanging right under it, present the woman's duty to the house. Even when I'm dead, they expect me to clean. The reason why this portrait was commissioned to begin with brings out the importance of social status in the late medieval time. During the medieval period, Europe saw a rise in merchants, bringing out a new class, the wealthy merchant class or the bourgeoisi as it's more commonly known today. Brouge was the hub of international trade. The Arnoldenis originally from Luca, Italy, moved there in pursuit of greater success. Although merchants had money and accumulated wealth, climbing the social ladder in a land of kings, lords, and nobles was not that easy, they could never be part of the aristocracy. As merchants grew richer, they wanted everyone to know it.

[00:08:05]And what better way than commissioning a portrait, a luxury that was reserved at that time for kings and nobles. Although Giovani was able to commission the painting, the fast growth in wealth among merchants did not go without push back from the upper class. Soon there were rules in place to differentiate the wealthy merchant class and the nobility.

[00:08:26]That's where Van Ike's value comes in.

[00:08:28]At the time, Vanke was the court painter for King Philip the Good. He was well aware of the line between classes and how to display the Arnold Fenies in the correct way. Dead wife or not, a portrait was a way to show off their wealth and place their relative importance within society. The portrait does a great job displaying their wealth and expensive taste, yet making sure we are aware they are not part of the aristocracy.

[00:08:59]On the back wall, we can actually see the handwriting Van Ike was here.

[00:09:07]The signing of the painting could be seen as the artist's signature.

[00:09:11]However, the artist already painted himself into the picture. So why do we need more obvious proof of his presence?

[00:09:19]Because it's one more way of showing off the Arnold Feni's wealth and connections.

[00:09:27]Van filled the painting with extraordinary and peculiar details. For example, look at these shoes. Although they are shown in the portrait, the Arnolden's feet are bare. Costanza's shoes in the back near the wooden step are meant to elevate her feet from the dirt in the unpaved streets. His sandals are evidently dirty from a walk.

[00:09:51]Probably from a quick stroll to Airwan to get Haley Bieber's Berry Smoothie because even a dead wife deserves a treat.

[00:10:01]Any thoughts? Was this painting a loving memorial from a husband for his dead wife or just a marriage portrait? What we can undoubtedly agree on is that the details in this painting are incredible, showing Van Ike's ability to capture details, colors, and understand light and its effects. Hope you learned something new. Tell your oversharing neighbor about us. And remember kids, hot artists die