Peter Bruegel the Elder: paintings (list)

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Peter Brueghel the Elder is a Dutch artist, he is the most famous painter who bore this surname. Born presumably in 1525, lived for about 40 years, dying in 1569. Pieter Brueghel the Elder had an interesting nickname "Peasant". His paintings were most often created in such an artistic genre as the genre scene. Peter had two sons, Pieter Brueghel the Younger and Jan Brueghel the Elder, who were also painters, but less famous. The exact date of the artist's birth has not been established, but the city of Bred, which is now located in North Brabant, is considered to be the place. However, some historians are inclined to believe that Peter Brueghel the Elder was born in the village of Brueghel, which is located next to the above-mentioned city. His biography is filled with various interesting facts. For example, the artist in his signature in 1559 removed one letter, and it turned out Bruegel (originally Brueghel).

The beginning of creativity

And today Pieter Brueghel the Elder attracts with his vision of everything that is happening. His paintings are kept in many museums around the world. The painter began his work as a graphic artist. While still a young man, he managed to get to the court painter of the thenCharles V was in power. The painter Peter Cook van Alst taught his ward a lot. Pieter Brueghel the Elder worked in his workshop until the death of his teacher, who died in 1550. After a sad event, the artist entered the guild of painters and went to work for Jerome Kok, who printed engravings. Bosch's paintings made an impression on Pieter Brueghel the Elder. He was imbued with the idea of a great artist and even created his own variations on his creations.

Travel Europe

Mentor invited Pieter Brueghel the Elder to travel around Europe in order to create landscapes for engravings. What he saw greatly shocked the painter. The majestic monuments of Rome, the beauty of the landscapes of France, the masterpieces of the Renaissance and the magnificent waters of the Mediterranean Sea left an indelible mark on Brueghel's mind. As many scientists believe, in Rome the artist worked with the famous miniaturist Giulio Clovio.

First paintings

In 1563 he married the daughter of a mentor Pieter Brueghel the Elder. The paintings that were painted for engravings were recognized by everyone as wonderful, they were in demand. In order to please the desires of we althy clients, Pieter Brueghel the Elder often forged signatures, for example, Hieronymus Bosch, whose paintings he liked so much. After the marriage, such famous paintings as "Big fish eat small ones" and "Donkey at school" were painted. In 1557, Pieter Brueghel the Elder created several engravings that depicted mortal sins. In 1563, having already gained experience, the artist moved to Brussels with his family.

Interesting facts

Peter Brueghel the Elder was distinguished by the versatility of his works, he wrote almost everything. However, there were things that the artist basically did not draw for unknown reasons. So, Pieter Brueghel the Elder never painted portraits and nudes. His paintings almost always corresponded to this principle. The only portrait that this painter painted is “Head of a Peasant Woman”. Although, undoubtedly, orders for portraits came in large numbers. Pieter Brueghel the Elder received the nickname "Peasant" in order not to confuse him with his son.

Merit to the Fatherland

The artist painted pictures reflecting the problems of society and the vices of people. It was the Renaissance of Pieter Brueghel the Elder that became the pinnacle of Dutch painting. One of the brightest and greatest artists, if not the world, then definitely the Netherlands, he put a meaning hidden from the eyes into every creation. The artist's paintings can only be understood from a philosophical point of view. One of the main directions was the fight against the vices of people. The artist's works are designed to convey to all the suffering for the fate of each person. Sometimes too cruel, the paintings of Pieter Brueghel the Elder are the ones that attract people. They tell the truth about the world. However, not everything in the works is so gloomy, the artist does not leave hope for the salvation of people, he dreams and conveys to people the idea of harmony, the arrangement of the world on the basis of morality.

Meaning of pictures

During the life of Pieter Brueghel the Elder, the Inquisition flourished in Europe. Everywhere, especially in small towns, people were brutally killed for the slightest denunciation of them. Heretics, as the executioners believed them to be, were burned at the stake, buried alive in the ground, drowned, and subjected to terrible tortures. For any denunciation, even not supported by facts, they paid very well, so people often gave even their loved ones to be torn to pieces by the Inquisition. All this is told by many paintings by Pieter Brueghel the Elder.

End of life

The artist died in 1569 in Brussels. His most recent creation was The Triumph of Truth (according to van Mander, a writer and artist). He also claims that this painting was Pieter Brueghel the Elder's best.

List of some paintings:

• Nest Busters;
• "Peasant Dance";
• "Peasant Wedding";
• "Misanthrope";
• “The Parable of the Blind”;
• "Forty on the gallows";
• "Three Soldiers";
• Cripples;
• "Conversion of Saul";
• "Adoration of the Magi in a winter landscape";
• Wedding Dance.

The most famous creation

According to many connoisseurs, the best creation is "Flemish Proverbs". This picture was created in 1559, it tells about funny incidents in people's lives. Mareinissen, the famous art historian, deciphered the hidden meaning of the action of each person in the picture. "Flemish proverbs" tell in allegorical form about the life, characters, thoughts of people. For example: “She would tie the devil to the pillow” - she is not afraid of either God or the devil: this vixen is able to curb the most obstinatewell done; straight as hell. “Gnawing a pillar” - a hypocrite, a pillar of the church, a hypocrite, a saint. And so absolutely about every hero of the picture.

The Tower of Babel Painting

Many creations are some of the most famous in the world, created by Brueghel Pieter the Elder. The Tower of Babel is one of them. Written in 1563, today kept in Vienna. It is not difficult to guess that the picture tells about one of the Biblical stories: about the mixing of different languages and about the scattering of people. Pieter Brueghel the Elder was the best at portraying the majestic tower, which seems to be eternal. People wanted to rise to God, but they failed.

Adoration of the Kings Painting

The picture was painted in 1564. It belongs to the Biblical. It depicts Jesus Christ, when he was still a baby, with the Mother of God, and rich people present various gifts to the Son of God. Another name for the work is "The Adoration of the Magi". The painting is kept in London, at the National Gallery.

Children's Play Painting

This creation was created by Pieter Brueghel the Elder in 1560. The painting "Children's Games" depicts a street where a huge number of children play. As in all the works of the painter, there is a hidden meaning here. The essence of the picture lies in the fact that the artist compares people's lives with the games of children. Thus, Pieter Brueghel the Elder shows how petty human existence is. The guys in the picture are missingsmiles, they depict the actions usually performed by adults, and like them, are completely given over to the game of life.