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Alpine landscape

Maker

(artist)
active late 16th or early 17th century (Life dates)

Formerly attributed to
(artist)
1525-1569

Title

Alpine landscape

Date of Production

1575-1625

Medium

traces of black chalk (confirmed under IR), pen and brown ink, with dashes of brown wash in the foreground, on laid paper, with grey ink framing lines

Dimensions

Height: 19.5 cm
Width: 32.4 cm

Accession Number

D.1978.PG.10

Mode of Acquisition

HM Government (Acceptance in Lieu), allocation, 1978

Credit

Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Samuel Courtauld Trust, 1981.

Copyright

Work in the public domain

Location

Not currently on display

Keywords

Label Text

A single dwelling is the only evidence of man in this rugged landscape. A skilled draughtsman, the artist captures the combination of delicacy and monumentality present in Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s landscapes, including the painted 'Landscape with the Flight into Egypt' (also in the Courtauld collection). The artist’s characteristic use of mid-ground focus, however, is not found in Bruegel drawings. The intention of these imitative works, whether as displays of virtuosity or to pass as Bruegel originals, is unclear.

Provenance

Sir Thomas Lawrence, London (1769-1830), L.2445; ceded by his executors to Samuel Woodburn (London), 1835; Woodburn estate sale, Christie’s (London), 4 - 8 June 1860, lot 92; purchased there by Sir Thomas Phillips (1792-1872); by descent to his grandson, Thomas Fitzroy Fenwick (1856-1938); purchased from the Fenwick estate by Count Antoine Seilern, London (1901-1978), 1946; Princes Gate Bequest 1978 (Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Samuel Courtauld Trust, 1981)

Exhibition History

Drawings Gallery Display - Bruegel / Not Bruegel, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 16/01/2016-17/04/2016

Mantegna to Cezanne - Master Drawings from the Courtauld, British Museum, London, 24/02/1983-19/06/1983

Literature

Mielke, Hans, Pieter Bruegel: die Zeichnungen, Turnhout 1996
no. A 5 on p. 76
as Savery; in file

Mielke, Hans, 'Noch einmal zum Problem von Pieter Bruegels Landschaftszeichnungen' in 'Münchner Jahrbuch der bildenden Kunst', 1991 - pp. 137-47
pp. 142-43
fig. 7 on p. 143

The age of Bruegel: Netherlandish drawings in the sixteenth century, National Gallery of Art, Washington and Pierpont Morgan Library, New York, 1986-87
p. 92 note 3 and p. 98 under no. 27
in file for PG.9 ...More

Mantegna to Cezanne: Master Drawings from the Courtauld, British Museum, London, 1983
no. 17 on p. 18
ill. p. 29
in file

Oberhuber, Konrad, 'Bruegel's early landscape drawings' in 'Master Drawings', 1981 - pp. 146-56; XIX
p. 147
in file for PG.9

'Des dessins de Pierre Bruegel l'Ancien' in 'Bruegel: une dynastie de peintres', Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, 1980
p. 63
ill. p. 65
in file for PG.9

Müller Hofstede, Justus, 'Zur Interpretation von Pieter Bruegels Landschaft Ästhetischer Landschaftsbegriff und Stoische Weltbetrachtung' in 'Pieter Bruegel und seine Welt', Berlin 1979
pp. 94, 125
in file for PG.9

Seilern, Count Antoine, Corrigenda and Addenda to the Catalogue of paintings and drawings at 56 Princes Gate, London, London 1971
no. 10
in file

Catalogue raisonné des estampes de Bruegel l'Ancien, Bibliothèque royale Albert Ier, Brussels, 1969
pp. 30, 38
in file for PG.9

Lugt, Frits, Musée du Louvre: Inventaire général des dessins des écoles du Nord. Maitres des anciens Pays-Bas nes avant 1550, Paris 1968
p. 83 under no. 331

de Tolnay, Charles and Christopher White, 'Letters: A landscape by Pieter Bruegel the Elder' in 'Burlington Magazine, Apr. 1964 - p. 186; 106, 733
p. 186
in file

Münz, Ludwig, Bruegel: the drawings, London 1961
no. 12 on pp. 208-209 and pp. 19, 209 under no. 13
pl. 12

Prints & Drawings of Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Los Angeles County Museum, March-May 1961, 1961
p. 21 under no. 7

Popham, A.E., 'Sir Thomas Phillipps as a Patron of Artists and a Collector of Pictures and Drawings' in 'The Formation of the Phillipps Library from 1841-1872 (Phillipps Studies, IV), Cambridge 1956
p. 226

Seilern, Count Antoine, Flemish paintings & drawings at 56 Princes Gate, London SW 7, London 1955; I
no. 10
pl. XXVII
in file

Grossmann, F., The drawings of Pieter Bruegel the Elder in the Museum Boymans. Postscript: 'Notes on the landscape drawings of Bruegel' in 'Bulletin Museum Boymans', 1954; V, 3
p. 79

de Tolnay, Charles, The drawings of Pieter Bruegel the elder: with a critical catalogue, London 1952
no. 22 on p. 60
ill.
in file for PG.9

Popham, A.E., Catalogue of drawings in the collection formed by Sir Thomas Phillipps, now in the possession of his grandson T. FitzRoy Phillipps Fenwick of Thirlestaine House Cheltenham, London 1935
p. 179
pl. LXX

de Tolnay, Charles, Pierre Bruegel l'ancien, Brussels 1935
p. 101, no. 3
fig. 172

Popham, A.E., Vasari Society, Second series, 1931; XII
no. 10 ...Less

Inscriptions

Watermark: Watermark: none. Peter Bower says it is lightweight, very good quality paper (2017 report).

Inscription: none.

Collector's mark: Recto: lower left corner, blindstamped: Thomas Lawrence (L.2445).

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