BREENBERGH, Bartholomeus
(b. 1598/1600, Deventer, d. 1657, Amsterdam)

Idealised View with Roman Ruins, Sculptures, and a Port

c. 1650
Oil on canvas, 116 x 89 cm
Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid

In this landscape Breenberg composes an idealized view of the Eternal City, represented by some of its most famous monuments, which the artist had sketched from life numerous times. Among the elements he includes is Michelangelo's statue of Moses, which at that time was considered to be equal in quality to the sculpture of Antiquity. The statue is shown in reverse, which might suggest that Breenberg copied it from an engraving.