Pieter Bruegel the Elder

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder
c. 1525/30 to 1569
most significant painter of Dutch & Flemish Renaissance

(presumed self-portrait) pic.twitter.com/8Wqj1esvsM

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Bruegel the Elder had a formative influence on Dutch Golden Age painting. pic.twitter.com/aK0U6d2hVP

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Bruegel painted no portraits, which was the standard genre painting of his time (and after).

12 Proverbs pic.twitter.com/LkZbficN6P

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Bruegel’s Adoration of the Kings is arguably the most populated Nativity scene ever painted. pic.twitter.com/oz2rBOpKHv

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Battle in the Bay of Naples pic.twitter.com/bUdnNJwukA

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Bruegel was in the first generation of Dutch/Flemish painters when religious themes were no longer considered the only acceptable subject for art.

Mad Meg pic.twitter.com/QyCnwSdVzd

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Though Calvinism forbade religious paintings in churches (as idolatry), patrons could commission such subjects for private display in their own homes.

Census at Bethlehem pic.twitter.com/rjrGH6kc2k

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Bruegel’s Procession to Calvary is his second largest painting, measuring 49′ x 67′ pic.twitter.com/sXcnKW2cny

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder
1559: Bruegel dropped the “h” in his last name to distinguish himself from his sons, Pieter and Jan, both of whom were also successful painters. pic.twitter.com/YeNCJPU7Eg

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Bruegel is sometimes called “Peasant Bruegel” because he painted so many landscape scenes dominated by its peasant population. pic.twitter.com/pKWeJxZhOo

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Nothing is known about Bruegel’s family background.

Landscape with Fall of Icarus
(Icarus is in the ocean in the forefront R, between ship and shore. No one in the painting notices him.) pic.twitter.com/iBV6xUj381

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Famed as a printmaker before achieving success as a painter, Bruegel painted only in the last decade of his life. pic.twitter.com/WE6Uf7Iu8p

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder pic.twitter.com/4IkFGZUg8N

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder pic.twitter.com/cSr4VUgIbu

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Bruegel specialized in the painting of peasants, then considered a genre painting. pic.twitter.com/T47laoX3hz

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder
His paintings are often large landscapes populated by dozens of peasants crowded together. pic.twitter.com/tkIuP9llZE

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Tower of Babel
(1 of 3 different versions) pic.twitter.com/OkzVcq3hnT

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Landscape of Christ with Apostles
(they’re in the boats) pic.twitter.com/XEWXqmWhTx

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder

The Triumph of Death
(King, in crown & armor, at lower L, table with food at lower R with dead musician, dead peasants & soldiers abound. The only not-dead figures are Skeleton Death, w raised sword, about to execute kneeling man, upper R) pic.twitter.com/uGsiIYKmaV

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Bruegel is known for his high perspective, displaying lots of small figures in a broad landscape. pic.twitter.com/5IkuphfYot

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder pic.twitter.com/xkSmMtDj0W

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Fight Between Carnival and Lent pic.twitter.com/p1WRpzlvZT

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Landscape with the Flight into Egypt pic.twitter.com/pfun0ALqbu

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Land of Cockaigne
(a mythical land of plenty) pic.twitter.com/A0WS66edjk

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Winter Landscape with Skaters and a Bird Trap
(trap in lower R forefront, on the ground) pic.twitter.com/5wCCR9sWq2

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Suicide of Saul
(Saul’s body is to L, being discovered by a soldier, high above the violent battle in the valley that dominates the R of the painting.) pic.twitter.com/L2TmQiPjkh

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Pig Has to Go into Sty pic.twitter.com/QPG9pCHAft

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder
In addition to his high perspective, Bruegel’s work is known for his largely populated scenes where each small group completely ignores every other group.

Children’s Games pic.twitter.com/oqQWfJf1hv

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Massacre of the Innocents pic.twitter.com/hzVsyIsgVG

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Wedding Dance in Open Air pic.twitter.com/cXf2vJXGm4

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder

The Cripples
(one of his most famous paintings) pic.twitter.com/jSsP1uZWAU

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Bruegel is respected for his accurate portrayal of people with disabilities.

Blind Leading the Blind pic.twitter.com/SP0BHbfL9j

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Bruegel’s work is more popular with collectors than with art critics.

Big Fish Eat Little Fish pic.twitter.com/gPLR4ndION

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder
1565: A wealthy patron commissioned Bruegel to paint a “calendar” of paintings, with 12 different works, one for each month.

The Harvesters (August) pic.twitter.com/p2bDbapJQS

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Unfortunately, only a few of the paintings which were done for the patron’s “calendar” have survived.

The Hay Harvest
(part of “calendar” paintings) pic.twitter.com/Esx9ezbBXm

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder

The Return of the Herd
(part of “calendar” paintings) pic.twitter.com/0tQhJRVU32

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder

The Gloomy Day
(part of “calendar” paintings) pic.twitter.com/sXU19sb0tK

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder
His most copied work, available for sale as prints.

Hunters in the Snow
(part of “calendar” paintings [Dec-Jan] and one of B’s most famous works.) pic.twitter.com/u6k2s5YbQ8

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Monkeys pic.twitter.com/0p0BgJqRng

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Peasant Wedding pic.twitter.com/CpSC3kBblP

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder

The Dutch Proverbs (also, The Blue Cloak) pic.twitter.com/LGTZgt8MEu

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder

The Seven Deadly Sins (also, The Seven Vices) pic.twitter.com/YNrrT3ffPv

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder
His late paintings featured a lower perspective.

Peasant Dance pic.twitter.com/uXtiu6u6no

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018

#ArtSaturday Pieter Bruegel the Elder
His late paintings also featured fewer figures (along with the lower perspective).

The Peasant and The Nest-Thief pic.twitter.com/IjedcweV7K

— Alexandria Constantinova Szeman, Ph.D. (@Alexandria_SZ) May 5, 2018