Artwork
River Landscape
River Landscape is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Jan Brueghel, the elder. It dates from 1607 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left: BRVEGHEL 1607
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Executed on a small copper support, the work exemplifies the detailed topographical interest characteristic of the period.
River Landscape is a 1607 oil‑on‑copper painting by Jan Brueghel the Elder that belongs to the landscape genre, depicting a riverine vista typical of early Baroque naturalistic scenery. Executed on a small copper support, the work exemplifies the detailed topographical interest characteristic of the period. Its provenance traces from the Dukes of Chandos through successive generations to a sale in February 2000, after which it entered the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Technique & Style
River Landscape (1607) is an oil painting on copper support, measuring approximately 20.7 cm × 32.1 cm. The work belongs to the landscape genre and was created by Jan Brueghel the Elder, a leading Flemish painter of the early 17th century. Its material consists of oil paint applied to a thin copper panel, a support commonly used for small, detailed compositions during this period. The painting entered the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., after being purchased in February 2000 from Galerie Sanct Lucas, Vienna, and it remains part of the museum’s collection.
History & Provenance
Jan Brueghel the Elder painted River Landscape in 1607, working in oil on copper.
The painting's early provenance includes the Duke of Chandos at Canons, Edgware, Middlesex, though which duke first acquired it remains undetermined. The title passed through the Brydges family by descent, including through Anna Eliza Brydges and her husband Richard Nugent-Temple-Grenville, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, whose descendants continued to use the Chandos title. The work later appeared with Galerie Nissl in Vaduz before its purchase on 10 February 2000 through Galerie Sanct Lucas in Vienna by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., where it now resides.
The painting is held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
It was purchased by the NGA on 10 February 2000 through Galerie Sanct Lucas, Vienna, having previously been with Galerie Nissel, Vaduz. Earlier provenance traces back to the Duke of Chandos at Canons, Edgware, Middlesex, and by descent through his family, though the specific duke who first owned the work has not been determined.
Overview
Jan Brueghel the Elder's River Landscape, painted in 1607, is an oil on copper work depicting a vibrant waterway. This painting presents a detailed panorama of daily life along a river, showcasing the artist's characteristic attention to minute elements within a broad natural setting. The choice of copper as a support contributes to the work's distinct visual qualities, allowing for a luminous and precise execution.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Brueghel the Elder ( BROY-gəl, US also BROO-gəl; Dutch:; 1568 – 13 January 1625) was a Flemish painter and draughtsman.
