Bruegel's Legacy: A Journey Through Belgian Sites and Museums
The 450th anniversary of Pieter Bruegel the Elder's death in 2019 prompted a tour of locations in Brussels, Dilbeek, and Antwerp tied to his life and work. In Brussels, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts hold four of his paintings, including The Fall of Icarus and The Census at Bethlehem. The Royal Library preserves his complete print collection, exhibited in 'The World of Bruegel in Black and White' until February 16. Bruegel lived in the Marolles district; his presumed home is linked to his grisaille Death of the Virgin. The Halle Gate features a VR experience 'Back to Bruegel' until October 18. Near Dilbeek, the Church of St. Anna and a watermill inspired backgrounds in The Blind Leading the Blind and Hunters in the Snow. Gaasbeek Castle hosted 'Feast of Fools. Bruegel Rediscovered' with contemporary artists. Bokrijk open-air museum recreates 16th-century life. In Antwerp, the Museum Mayer van den Bergh displays Twelve Proverbs and Dulle Griet, the latter showing Bosch's influence.
Key facts
- 2019 marked the 450th anniversary of Pieter Bruegel the Elder's death.
- Bruegel dropped the 'H' from his surname in 1559; his sons Jan and Pieter reinstated it.
- Vienna holds the largest collection of Bruegel's paintings.
- Four Bruegel paintings are at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Brussels.
- The Royal Library of Brussels has a complete collection of Bruegel's prints.
- Bruegel is buried in the Church of Notre-Dame de la Chapelle in Brussels.
- The Halle Gate in Brussels offers a VR experience 'Back to Bruegel'.
- The Museum Mayer van den Bergh in Antwerp owns Dulle Griet and Twelve Proverbs.
Entities
Artists
- Pieter Bruegel the Elder
- Jan Brueghel the Elder
- Pieter Brueghel the Younger
- Jan Brueghel the Younger
- Peter Paul Rubens
- Hieronymus Bosch
- David Teniers the Younger
- James Ensor
- Gilberto Zorio
- Grazia Toderi
- Guillaume Bijl
- Futurefarmers
- Office KGDVS
- Bas Princen
- Rotor
- Georges Rousse
- Lois Weinberger
- Mayken Coecke
- Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle
- Hieronymus Cock
- Jozef Weyns
- Marco Enrico Giacomelli
Institutions
- Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
- Royal Library of Belgium
- Church of Notre-Dame de la Chapelle
- Halle Gate
- Museum Mayer van den Bergh
- Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna
- Museo di Capodimonte
- Galleria Doria Pamphilj
- Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum
- Museo del Prado
- Courtauld Gallery
- Gemäldegalerie Berlin
- Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt
- Upton House
- Gaasbeek Castle
- Bokrijk Open-Air Museum
- Artribune
Locations
- Brussels
- Belgium
- Antwerp
- Dilbeek
- Sint-Anna-Pede
- Sint-Gertrudis-Pede
- Pajottenland
- Brabant
- Vienna
- Austria
- Rotterdam
- Netherlands
- London
- United Kingdom
- Madrid
- Spain
- Prague
- Czech Republic
- Naples
- Italy
- Rome
- Berlin
- Germany
- Darmstadt
- Banbury
- United States