Exhibition Explores Naturalism in Dutch and Flemish Drawings from the 16th and 17th Centuries

An exhibition titled 'Bruegel to Rembrandt: Drawing Life, Sketching Wonder' is on view at Compton Verney in Warwickshire from March 14 to June 28, 2026. It features 64 drawings from the 16th and 17th centuries, highlighting the rise of naturalism in Dutch and Flemish art. Curated by Jane Simpkiss, the show includes works by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Rembrandt van Rijn, and over 50 other artists, many from the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, with some pieces displayed in the UK for the first time. The exhibition examines how drawing evolved as both a preparatory tool and an independent medium during a period of religious and social change, showcasing genres like landscapes, mythology, and everyday scenes.