Brueghel, Jan the Elder (1568-1625)
Mountainous Landscape with Herdsmen Resting by a Path
c.1595
Oil on copper, 18.6 x 25.2 cm
Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford
Travelers of different backgrounds populate the windy roads of this dramatic mountain view. With atmospheric lighting and attention to detail, Brueghel created a landscape alive with activity. He was directly inspired by nature and freely incorporated scenic elements from different countries in his pictures. Here he juxtaposed the ancient Temple of Vesta outside Rome with a wide river valley evocative of Central Europe. Brueghel found great success specializing in landscapes like this one, which was likely painted early in his career, during his stay in Rome. The stork and the falcon in the background appear frequently in his works and can be interpreted as his signature. (WA)