BRUEGHEL, Jan the Elder
(b. ca. 1568, Brussel, d. 1625, Antwerpen)

Harbour Scene with Christ Preaching

1598
Oil on panel, 79 x 119 cm
Alte Pinakothek, Munich

After his return to the Netherlands from Italy, Jan Brueghel appears to have reverted to the Early-Netherlandish tradition of the 'world landscape' and its tri-partite colour scheme, of which his Harbour Scene with Christ Preaching is a striking example. The grand panorama with a high horizon, the three-colour system, and the swarming masses of people, are clearly reminiscent of the style of Jan's father, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, although Italian motifs can be identified in the topographical details. Only rarely would Jan Brueghel actually copy his father literally. This would be left to his less gifted brother, Pieter the Younger, who was able to profit quite easily and successfully from Pieter the Elder's enormous popularity.




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