Flemish painter born in
Tournai and became a licensed master in
1432 after studying in the workshop of
Robert Campin. He was soon appointed the official painter of the city
Bruges, an office he held until his death in
1464.
Van der Weyden's style is similar to his contemporaries', like
Jan van Eyck and van der Weyden's master Campin, with typical preciseness and fine details, at the same time concentrating on the central figure by shrouding the surroundings in shadows, highlighting the central parts of the painting and often limiting the scene with buildings and other large
architectural objects to give the impression of a room. He also introduced a number of new
techniques, such as the placing of a rear-view person in the foreground to enclose the
motive and alienate the viewer from the scene.
Some of his most well-known works include: