From Publishers Weekly
Although he painted landscapes, biblical events and even scenes of otherworldly debauchery reminiscent of Hieronymus Bosch, 16th-century Flemish painter Bruegel is probably best known for his scenes of peasant farmers laboring in the fields. Today, these masterpieces of Renaissance art are scattered around the world, from Vienna to New Jersey. The Roberts-Joneses (Philippe is a University of Brussels art history professor and Françoise specializes in restoring early Netherlandish paintings) have collected dozens of Bruegel's works (only about 40 paintings and 40 drawings survive, plus some 80 engravings) in a gorgeous volume and paired them with insights into the artist's life and work. They explain nuts and bolts aspects, such as the origins of the linen used in some of Bruegel's paintings, and how the pigments for the paint were crushed and mixed; they also offer deeper explanations of the symbolism behind many of the works. Their descriptions of scenes and paintings lean toward the pleasingly poetic: e.g., of The Harvest, they write, "the powerful, billowing mass of the wheat separates the foreground from the distance, which is lost in a haze of heat." With over 350 photographs, most in full color, the book is a veritable feast for the eyes and a valuable examination of the artist and his milieu. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Publishers Weekly
"...a veritable feast for the eyes and a valuable examination of the artist and his milieu."
Book Description
Famous for his robust scenes of peasant life and his incomparable mountain landscapes, the beloved 16th-century artist Pieter Bruegel is generally considered the greatest Flemish painter of the Renaissance. This book, the most up-to-date monograph on Bruegel, incorporates the latest art-historical research and new information gleaned from recent restoration of his work. The authors, an art historian and a painting conservator, each bring their special expertise to bear on the many outstanding questions about the artist's life, technique, and the often enigmatic meaning of his paintings. Bruegel's enduring appeal brought huge crowds to a recent show of his drawings at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Lavishly illustrated not only with Bruegel's paintings, drawings, and engravings but also with telling details and archival material rarely or never shown elsewhere, this sumptuous book on this enormously popular artist will find a wide audience.
Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French
Pieter Bruegel FROM THE PUBLISHER
"This book, Pieter Bruegel, offers new insights into the life and work of this original creative genius. The authors, an art historian and a painting conservator/restorer, each bring their special expertise to bear on the many questions that still remain about Bruegel's life - about which surprisingly little is known - and his intellectual outlook. The book also presents the most recent research on the artist's drawing and painting techniques, his approach to composition, and his collaborative relationships with other artists of his circle, incorporating new information learned from recent restoration of his work. Through its thorough examination of all the evidence available, the book sheds new light on these issues, and, above all, on the essential meaning of Bruegel's art." Richly illustrated, this important book reveals much new information about one of the most intriguing figures of Renaissance art. It will be an indispensable addition to the libraries of scholars, students, and the many lovers of Bruegel's painting.
SYNOPSIS
Two specialists based in Breugel's native Brussels, an art historian (Philippe, emeritus from the U. of Brussels) and a painting conservator (Francoise, with the Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique) have written a substantial work on the painter's life, work, and historical milieu. The lengthy essays describe Breugel's entire oeuvre with attention to the political and artistic scene, painting technique, the sources for the subjects, compositional techniques, landscape, folklore, religion, comparable works by other artists, and iconography. Copious details of Breugel's paintings and drawings in quality color illustrations can be pored over at leisure in this oversize (9.75x13.25") volume. Annotation (c)2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
Although he painted landscapes, biblical events and even scenes of otherworldly debauchery reminiscent of Hieronymus Bosch, 16th-century Flemish painter Bruegel is probably best known for his scenes of peasant farmers laboring in the fields. Today, these masterpieces of Renaissance art are scattered around the world, from Vienna to New Jersey. The Roberts-Joneses (Philippe is a University of Brussels art history professor and Frangoise specializes in restoring early Netherlandish paintings) have collected dozens of Bruegel's works (only about 40 paintings and 40 drawings survive, plus some 80 engravings) in a gorgeous volume and paired them with insights into the artist's life and work. They explain nuts and bolts aspects, such as the origins of the linen used in some of Bruegel's paintings, and how the pigments for the paint were crushed and mixed; they also offer deeper explanations of the symbolism behind many of the works. Their descriptions of scenes and paintings lean toward the pleasingly poetic: e.g., of The Harvest, they write, "[t]he powerful, billowing mass of the wheat separates the foreground from the distance, which is lost in a haze of heat." With over 350 photographs, most in full color, the book is a veritable feast for the eyes and a valuable examination of the artist and his milieu. (Nov.) Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.
Art & Photography
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