Hubert was evidently one who looked at the world with observant eyes and found it beautiful.

When he had flowers to paint, he painted the whole plant accurately, not the blossoms individually, like the painter of Richard II.

He liked fine stuffs, embroideries, jewels, and glittering armour.

He was no visionary trying to free himself from the earth and live in contemplation of the angels and saints in Paradise, like so many of the thirteenth and fourteenth century artists.
In this new delightful interest in the world as it is, he reflected the tendency of his day.

The fifty years that had elapsed between the painting of Richard II.'s portrait and the work of the Van Eycks, had seen a great development of trade and industry in Flanders.