Early Netherlandish painting
In Early Netherlandish painting, from the richest cities of Northern Europe, a new minute realism in oil painting was combined with subtle and complex theological allusions, expressed precisely through the highly detailed settings of religious scenes. The "Mérode Altarpiece" (1420s) of Robert Campin and the Washington Van Eyck "Annunciation" or "Madonna of Chancellor Rolin" (both 1430s, by Jan van Eyck) are examples.