The 9 square puzzle using a modified version of the fine painting by Flemish artist Robert Campin (1378-1444) entitled "Portrait of a Lady" painted in the period of 1420-1430. When the puzzle is complete, you can move lower on the page to more difficult puzzles with the same image. You can go there directly by clicking the red square. Information about the artist and the lady is at the page bottom here.
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The 16 square puzzle using the fine modified painting by Flemish artist Robert Campin. When the puzzle is complete, you can move lower on the page to more difficult puzzles with the same image. You can go there directly by clicking the red square.











The 25 square puzzle using the fine modified painting by Flemish artist Robert Campin. When the puzzle is complete, you can move lower on the page to more difficult puzzles with the same image. You can go there directly by clicking the red square.











The 36 square puzzle using the fine modified painting by Flemish artist Robert Campin. When the puzzle is complete, you can move lower on the page to more difficult puzzles with the same image. You can go there directly by clicking the red square.











The 49 square puzzle using using the fine modified painting by Flemish artist Robert Campin. When the puzzle is complete, you can move lower on the page to more difficult puzzles with the same image. You can go there directly by clicking the red square.



The 64 square puzzle using using the fine modified painting by Flemish artist Robert Campin. This puzzle is getting harder yet with such a large image a puzzle with even more pieces would surely work well. Congratulations if you succeed. The applet permits up to a ten square puzzle. If there is any interest in my listing a puzzle of greater difficulty, drop me a line and I'll add it in. Information about the artist and the subject can be found below.




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The image is of a painting by Flemish artist Robert Campin (1378-1444) entitled "Portrait of a Lady" painted in the period of 1420-1430. And what a magnificent painting it is! But, to be precise about it, the painting was modified by the Webmaster by placing the painting and a mirror image of that painting side by side in order to create the compelling and more difficult puzzle you see on your screen. Very much an innovator in his day, I trust that Robert Campin would not object! The image is large ~ I was not satisfied with the image when compressed.

You may see the original image on Carol Gerten's wonderful site (CGFA) here (Japan) or here (U.S.A.) and can see more of Robert Campin's artwork on the Internet here and here. That last site has a truly splendid scan of "Portrait of a Lady".

I understand that there is a lot of historical information about Robert Campin who was the leading Flemish painter of his day. He, however, signed only one piece of his artwork, a situation not unusual at that time. Scholars in the intervening centuries seem convinced that a large body of work in fact is the work of Robert Campin. He is also thought to be the "Master of Flémalle", the unknown artist who painted a magnificent altarpiece at Flémalle abbey, near Liège in Belgium. He was born in 1378, or perhaps in the period of 1375/1380, at Valenciennes, but spent his life at Tournai (close to Lille, France but across the border in Belgium). He painted in a radical new artistic style, with both detail and perspective. The painting itself, of oil & egg tempera on oak, is 40.6 cm x 28.1 cm in size. It is on display in the National Gallery in London, England. It would seem that the painting is one of a husband and wife pair. You can see "husband" by clicking here. What a splendid painting that is too! To be honest about it, I thought the lady was a nun, but I am clearly mistaken.

I do not pretend that I am artist. I select images subjectively - ones that appeal to me (and I hope to you). But I find it astonishing to think that work of such brilliance is available to us today 580 or so years after it was painted. I rather doubt if the artist could ever in his wildest imagination have thought that he would achieve such immortality. A final few thoughts. None of the sites I have visited on the WWW have addressed the matter of the artist's name which to me does not sound Flemish at all. Presumably it is a French name. Nor could I find out whether the abbey at Flémalle still stands. And last of all, I have seen no reference to the identity of "The Lady". Drop me a line if you know.

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The java applet that runs the puzzle is courtesy of Axel Fontaine, who lives just south of the city of Brussels in Belgium. Axel invited free use of his fine applet which you can, I hope, download here. Axel, we thank you!