Biography

Pieter Brueghel the Younger was the elder of two sons born just a few years before their father's, Pieter Bruegel the Elder's death. (The father spelled his name Brueghel until 1559, and his sons retained the "h" in the spelling of their names.) Known as "Hell Brueghel" because of his fascination with hobgoblins, fires, and grotesque figures, he made his career in Antwerp, where he became a master in the guild in 1585. He is best known as a copyist of his father's paintings, as they were both popular and scarce. In his own canvases, such as Village Fair and The Crucifixion, he shows a firm grasp of space and movement. His son, Pieter Brueghel III, was also known primarily as a copyist.