Saint Barbara
Jan van Eyck · 1437
Why it's great
A young woman sits quietly with a huge tower behind her and a book in her hand. Jan van Eyck made this drawing in 1437, and it is not a painting but a drawing made with a brush and ink. The tower is Barbara's symbol, because the story says she was locked in one.
Where to see it
📍 Royal Museum of Fine Arts AntwerpAntwerp, Belgium
Open in Maps ↗ About this museum →Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Jan van Eyck was a Flemish painter born around 1390 who worked for the Duke of Burgundy and lived in Bruges until he died in 1441. He was a master of oil paint, using thin glowing layers to paint jewels, fabric and reflections in amazing detail. His Arnolfini Portrait and the Ghent Altarpiece are among the most famous pictures of the 1400s.
