The Brueghel...
5:00 a.m.
By the end of the 16th and the begining of the 17th Century, a Flemish family dedicated to painting became popular and their works are now subject of study and admiration. The first of the family artists, and the most famous one, was Pieter I Bruegel, the Elder (c.1525-1569). His sons were Pieter II Brueghel (1564-1638), the Younger and Jan I Brueghel (1568-1625) the Elder. The last name of his sons is written with an H.
Of Jan I the MNBA has a masterpiece done in collaboration with Hendrick van Balen. The former painted the landscape, while the latter was in charge of the figures. Collaborations between artists was very common around those days, as works were made on assignment. The better the artist, the higher the price, that's why those who had special talents to depict humans or landscapes dedicated themselves exclusively to those subjects. However, Jan I was skilled on both.
The painting shows Diana, goddess of the Hunt, surrounded by her nymphs, and the dogs of her pack. The ladies examinate the result of a day dedicated to hunting or fishing.
Nymphs bathing, by Jan I Brueghel and Hendrick van Balen
Technique: oil / Measures: 23 x 29 x16.5 cm (17th century)
Also Jan, but this time together with Peter Paul Rubens, recreated in 1617, the painting "The five senses" which, a few days ago, used to be part of the exhibition "La belleza encerrada. De Fra Angelico a Fortuny", at the Museo Nacional del Prado. According to the curator, Alejandro Vergara, here, it is believed that the complete masterpiece was done by Jan I, because his skills are seen all over it. The artist was a talented miniature painter, so the minute objects in the work were probably done by himself. To do so, he used single-hair brushes and a magnifier.
The Five Senses, by Peter Paul Rubens and Jan Brueghel I (1617)
Technique: oil on wood / Measures: 64.7 x 109.5 cm
Museo del Prado
Peter the Elder painted the Census at Bethlehem, inspired by the census that took place in Palestine during the reign of King Herod. However, the scene takes place on the cold winter of the northern Europe of the 16th century.
Census at Bethlehem, by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1566)
Technique: oil on wood / Measures: 115.3 x 164.5 cm
Royal Museum of Art and History, Brussels.
Last month, at the Frieze Masters Fair, held in London, a copy of the Census, done by his son Pieter the Younger, was presented to the public. The painting was sold by the Johnny van Haeften Gallery, to a private collector, for 6 million pounds.
Census at Bethlehem, by Pieter Brueghel the Younger (c. 1611)
Frieze Masters Fair
The Colección Fortabat also has a Census at Bethlehem, painted by Pieter Brueghel, the Younger. Once again, a copy of the original masterpiece done by his father. Of the painting of his son, however, we can say it's set in the early stages of Spring, because the melting of the snow is evident, the roads are clearer and some green bushes appear on the borders of the stream. On the other hand, there's a refinement in the detailing that is quite different from the spiritual rusticity of his father.
Census at Bethlehem, by Pieter Brueghel the Younger
Technique: oil on wood / Measures: 117.5 x 167.5 cm
Colección Fortabat
The subject of the Census was very popular around those days among believers, because there are 12 paintings of it done by this family, all of them with minor differences. Only one can be found in America and we are very lucky to be able to enjoy it as part of Amalia Lacroze de Fortabat's Art Collection.
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