When Jan van Eyck produced his silverpoint drawing of Henry Beaufort as preparatory work for painting the Cardinal’s portrait at a later date, did he travel to England and Winchester to do this?

It seems highly likely on the basis of several clues Jan ‘planted’ in his great work, the Ghent Altarpiece.

And was the wry smile of Henry Beaufort’s face featured in the Just Judges panel inspired by the falconer’s smile carved in this spandrel from a choir stall in Winchester Cathedral?

All the details at this link

• Images: John Crook and RKD