Artwork
A View of Bracciano with the Church of S. Maria Assunta
A View of Bracciano with the Church of S. Maria Assunta is a drawing by the Baroque artist Bartholomeus Breenbergh. It dates from 1626 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. A View of Bracciano with the Church of S.
- Accession no.
- 2020.127
- Credit line
- Nancy F. and Joseph P. Keithley Collection Gift
About this work
Overview
A View of Bracciano with the Church of S. Maria Assunta is a drawing by Bartholomeus Breenberg, created after his extended stay in Italy.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts Bracciano, a medieval hill town on the shores of Lago di Bracciano, with the Church of Santa Maria Assunta prominent in the scene. Breenberg combined observed and remembered elements to create a serene landscape.
Technique & Style
Breenberg used gray and brown ink washes to achieve nuanced tonal gradations, resulting in vivid contrasts of light and shade that evoke the effects of Italian sunlight. The technique is characteristic of chiaroscuro, an artistic approach emphasizing strong light-dark contrasts.
History & Provenance
Breenberg traveled to Italy around 1620 and likely remained there for over a decade, sketching landscapes and ruins that he later incorporated into his work back in Amsterdam.
Artist & collection
Artist
Bartholomeus Breenbergh (before 13 November 1598 – after 3 October 1657) was a Dutch Golden Age painter of Italian and Italianate landscapes, in Rome (1619-1630) and Amsterdam (1630-1657).
An Italian Town with a Stone Bridge and a Waterfall
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Roman Rooftops
Farmhouse on the Slope of a Hill- View of a Castle (recto)