Pieter Bruegel
Pieter Brueghel the Elder was born in Belgium in a town named “Bruegel” in 1525 and died in 1569. Also known as Pieter Bruegel (he dropped the ‘h’ in 1559), he is considered the most important Flemish painter of the mid-16th century.
Bruegel became the apprentice of Pieter Coecke Van Aelst, an artist who lived in Brussels. Pieter Coecke Van Aelst was a sculptor, architect, and a tapestry and stained- glass designer. Bruegel later married Pieter’s daughter, Mayken Van Aelst, and they had two children together. Their children were named Jan ‘Velvet’ Bruegel and Pieter Bruegel II; both children grew up to become painters.
Bruegel traveled to Italy in about 1551. He visited Naples, Sicily, and possibly places as far as Palermo. In 1553, he began living in Rome where he worked with an artist named Giulio Clovio who was strongly influenced by Michelangelo. While in Rome, Bruegel made his earliest painting that was signed and dated. This painting showed a landscape with Christ and the Apostles at the Sea of Tiberias. However, the holy people in the painting were most likely done by Maarten de Vos. Bruegel also began drawing mountains and valleys. This was very rare, although Leonardo da Vinci also painted a valley. Bruegel inspired many people to paint landscapes after his return home to Belgium.
Pieter Bruegel died in 1569 on September 9th. He was buried in the Notre-Dame de la Chapelle in Brussels. His art inspired many and still does today. Some of his most famous works include Children’s Games, painted in 1559 and finished in 1560; The Suicide of Saul, created in 1562; Landscape with the Fall of Icarus, created in 1555; and The Hunters in the Snow and Gloomy Day, both created in 1565. Many of Bruegel’s works were landscapes. They also displayed everyday scenes such as peasants dancing and children playing. The paintings were very detailed and true to life. Pieter Bruegel had an impact on the development of the Renaissance through his art and ideas. He is and will always be the epitome of a Renaissance Man.
Bruegel became the apprentice of Pieter Coecke Van Aelst, an artist who lived in Brussels. Pieter Coecke Van Aelst was a sculptor, architect, and a tapestry and stained- glass designer. Bruegel later married Pieter’s daughter, Mayken Van Aelst, and they had two children together. Their children were named Jan ‘Velvet’ Bruegel and Pieter Bruegel II; both children grew up to become painters.
Bruegel traveled to Italy in about 1551. He visited Naples, Sicily, and possibly places as far as Palermo. In 1553, he began living in Rome where he worked with an artist named Giulio Clovio who was strongly influenced by Michelangelo. While in Rome, Bruegel made his earliest painting that was signed and dated. This painting showed a landscape with Christ and the Apostles at the Sea of Tiberias. However, the holy people in the painting were most likely done by Maarten de Vos. Bruegel also began drawing mountains and valleys. This was very rare, although Leonardo da Vinci also painted a valley. Bruegel inspired many people to paint landscapes after his return home to Belgium.
Pieter Bruegel died in 1569 on September 9th. He was buried in the Notre-Dame de la Chapelle in Brussels. His art inspired many and still does today. Some of his most famous works include Children’s Games, painted in 1559 and finished in 1560; The Suicide of Saul, created in 1562; Landscape with the Fall of Icarus, created in 1555; and The Hunters in the Snow and Gloomy Day, both created in 1565. Many of Bruegel’s works were landscapes. They also displayed everyday scenes such as peasants dancing and children playing. The paintings were very detailed and true to life. Pieter Bruegel had an impact on the development of the Renaissance through his art and ideas. He is and will always be the epitome of a Renaissance Man.