Pieter Bruegel

Norman Rockwell-that name may seem out of place when talking about Pieter Bruegel-the 16^th century Netherlands artist.  But not really.  Bruegel, like Rockwell, was a chronicler of his times.  Much of what we know about the customs, costumes, architecture and daily life of the 16^th Century is culled from Bruegel’s work.

Known primarily for his ‘peasant’ work, Bruegel was meticulous in his depictions of the daily lives and occurrences of Medieval folk.  His sprawling vistas of the countryside or cities were filled with common and royal folk going about their lives amidst their surroundings.

Bruegel also was adept at spectacular battle scenes, breath-taking landscapes accented by castles, villages, mountain ranges, lush forests and powerful rivers and quiet streams. 

Like many artists of his time he painted religious scenes-primarily of Jesus Christ and Mary but his talent didn’t stop there.  He was equally adept at pencils, engraving and frescos that depected  a wide variety of subject matter.

The other type of art Bruegel is famous for are his depictions of both Heaven and Hell. Like his predecessor, Hieronymus Bosch (whom he admired and emulated), Bruegel’s imagination seems to have no bounds.

His paintings of the afterlife, especially of Hell with their ghastly scenes of eternal torment, both frightened and fascinated patrons, much like it does today.

Recently a lost painting of Bruegel was found (The Wine Of Saint Martin’s Day) sparking new interest in the artist’s previous work.

Author and art historian Larry Silver, along with Abbeville Press, has released a coffee table edition of Pieter Bruegel’s work consisting of photos of all of his paintings, engravings, drawings and sketches.

Complete descriptions are given to each accompanied by Mr. Silver’s insightful and fascinating text on the life and work of the famous artist.  After looking through the book’s pages and reading the text I almost felt as if I knew Pieter Bruegel personally.  History comes alive and Bruegel becomes more than just a historical figure, he seems like someone I would meet and befriend.

In my opinion this is the ‘ultimate’ examination of the artist and contains the most complete and comprehensive compilation of his work.  I teach drawing and design at a local high school and I plan on using the book and sharing its contents with my students.