"Those painters who, painting graceful creatures in the prime of life, seek to superimpose on the painted subject some further element of charm or elegance sprung from their free imagination disfigure the entire portrayed creation,are untrue to their model, and thereby deviate to an equal extent from true beauty. Our Bruegel is free from this fault."--ABRAHAM ORTELIUS

Pieter Bruegel was about forty years old when the Duke of Alba entered Brussels.The painter was married, and had a son. His reputation as an artist was not as widespread across Europe as that of the recently deceased Michelangelo, nor again as that of Titian, by whom every prince sought to have his portrait painted. Many knew of Bruegel, however, and his works had a recognized cash value in his immediate home area, as can be deduced from the inclusion of sixteen Bruegels in the list of possessions which a Netherlands merchant gave as surety.

A Brief Life in Dangerous Times

Antwerp: a Booming City

The Holy Family in the Snow

Exploring the World

Demons in Our Midst

Village Life

Nature as Man"s Environment

Not only Peasants

Pieter the Droll?

Life and Work

List of Plates