Double Portrait of Israhel van Meckenem and His Wife Ida

Israhel van Meckenem

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a portrait of a man and a woman, displaying their head and shoulders. The man is on the left, slightly turned towards the woman, and the woman is on the right, facing the man. The man has prominent cheekbones, a long nose, a pronounced brow, and slightly downcast eyes. His hair is mostly covered by a cloth cap. The woman has a round face with delicate features, including a small mouth and eyes looking slightly downwards. Her hair is completely covered by a similar cloth cap. Both are dressed in simple garments. The background has an ornate pattern resembling foliage or scrollwork, rendered in a darker tone. Decorative text is visible at the bottom, but it is blurred and indiscernible.