Portrait of Baudouin de Lannoy

A diplomat of the Duke of Burgundy

Baudouin de Lannoy, lord of Molembaix, was a courtier and diplomat in the service of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy. Jan van Eyck, also employed by the duke, painted his portrait around 1435. The small panel belongs to the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin.

A stern, unflattering face

Lannoy looks to the side with a firm, unsmiling expression. Van Eyck recorded every detail of his ageing face: the furrowed brow, the thin lips, the veins at the temple, the slight sag of the cheek. There is no attempt to flatter.

A tall fur hat sits low on his head, framing the face with a dark mass.

The collar of the Golden Fleece

Around his shoulders hangs a heavy gold collar: the chain of the Order of the Golden Fleece, founded by Philip the Good in 1430. Lannoy was among its first knights. The collar announced his rank and his loyalty to the duke.

His robe is of dark purple brocade woven with gold patterns, painted with the same care as the face.

A staff of office

In his right hand he holds a thin white staff, a sign of his office at court. A gold ring shines on his finger. The hand grips the staff firmly, matching the determination of the face.

The Order of the Golden Fleece

Baudouin de Lannoy wears a gold chain with the emblem of the Order of the Golden Fleece, a ram’s fleece hanging from flints and steels. The order was founded by Duke Philip the Good in 1430, on the day of his wedding to Isabella of Portugal. Membership was limited to a small number of loyal nobles. Lannoy was one of the first members.

The chain shows his rank and his closeness to the duke. Van Eyck painted the gold with tiny highlights, so it seems to gleam.

A mission to Portugal

Lannoy and Van Eyck may have known each other well. Both took part in the Burgundian embassy to Portugal in 1428 to 1429, to arrange the marriage between Philip the Good and Isabella. Van Eyck painted portraits of the princess to send back to the duke. The long journey may have brought painter and diplomat together.

The staff of office

Lannoy holds a white staff, a sign of his official role at court. He was governor of Lille and a counsellor of the duke. The staff, the chain and the rich fur-trimmed robe all present him as a powerful official. Yet the face is not flattering. Van Eyck shows his hard features, small eyes and set mouth with complete honesty.

Honest realism

Van Eyck’s portraits are famous for not idealising their sitters. Wrinkles, stubble, warts and stern expressions are all recorded. This realism was valued by the Burgundian court, which wanted portraits that captured a true likeness. It also gives us a vivid sense of real people from almost six hundred years ago.

Where to see it

The portrait hangs in the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin, which holds an important collection of early Netherlandish painting. Our hand-painted oil reproduction follows this composition. For more portraits, explore our famous portraits.

Questions about Portrait of Baudouin de Lannoy

Who was Baudouin de Lannoy?

A courtier and diplomat of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, and a knight of the Golden Fleece.

Where is the original?

Gemäldegalerie, Berlin.

What is the gold chain?

The collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

How large is it?

About 26 × 19.5 centimetres, oil on panel.

What is the Golden Fleece?

An order of knighthood founded by Duke Philip the Good in 1430; Lannoy was an early member.

Did Lannoy and Van Eyck travel together?

Both took part in the Burgundian embassy to Portugal in 1428 to 1429.

Sources and image credit

• Wikimedia Commons: Baudouin de Lannoy, Gemäldegalerie 525G
• Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin

Public-domain reproduction of Portrait of Baudouin de Lannoy (about 1435), via Wikimedia Commons. Detail images are crops of the same historical painting; no reconstruction or upscaling.