The Arnolfini portrait ...

... Love letter to a painting | TLS.

... one of the remarkable features of the panel is its pedigree, for we have a good idea of who owned it, and where it was, from the day it was finished in 1434 down to our own times. Its history is not without adventure, and certainly hazardous moments, as it travelled over land and sea, escaped burning, and even survived a battle and disposition by soldiers after the fighting ended. Hicks recounts this history with aplomb, together with sketches of the owners and tales of the negotiations as the painting changed hands.