Editing Jan van Eyck (section)

===Inscriptions===
Many of van Eyck's paintings are heavily inscribed, in lettering of Greek, Latin or vernacular Dutch. Campbell sees in many examples a "certain consistency which suggest that he himself had painted them", rather than they are later additions.<ref name="c31" /> The letterings seem to serve different functions depending on the type of work on which they appear. In his single panel portraits they give voice to the sitter,<ref>Nash (2008), 145</ref> most notably in ''[[Portrait of Margaret van Eyck]]'', where the Greek lettering on the frame translates as "My husband Johannes completed me in the year 1439 on 17 June, at the age of 33. As I can."<ref name="t149">Borchert (2011), 149</ref> By contrast the inscriptions on his public, formal religious commissions are written from the point of view of the patron, and there to underscore his piousness, charity and dedication to the saint who he is shown accompanying. This can be seen in his ''[[Virgin and Child with Canon van der Paele]]'', reads An inscription on the lower imitation frame refers to the donation, "Joris van der Paele, canon of this church, had this work made by painter Jan van Eyck. And he founded two chaplaincies here in the choir of the Lord. 1434. He only completed it in 1436, however."<ref name="b146">Borchert (2011), 146</ref>
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