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Landscape with two mules
Maker
(artist)
active late 16th or early 17th century (Life dates)
Formerly attributed to
(artist)
1525-1569
active late 16th or early 17th century (Life dates)
Formerly attributed to
(artist)
1525-1569
Title
Landscape with two mules
Date of Production
1575-1625
Medium
traces of black chalk, pen and brown ink on laid paper, with brown ink framing lines; the ink is running in areas, likely as a result of the sheet sustaining some water damage
Dimensions
Height: 29.6 cm
Width: 42.6 cm
Width: 42.6 cm
Accession Number
D.1978.PG.8
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
Jagged peaks meet a brooding sky above a sweeping valley, with two mules driven by a lone figure in the foreground. The stipple-like rendering of the trees and strong hatching are more reflective of the technique of engraving than the drawing style of Pieter Bruegel the Elder, to whom this drawing was once attributed, demonstrating the extensive influence and dissemination of his prints. By quoting rock formations from Bruegel’s prints, the artist used the master’s motifs to develop larger compositions encapsulating the rugged grandeur of the Alps.
Long considered to be drawn from life by the Flemish artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder (around 1527-1569) when he crossed the Alps, this panoramic composition is in fact a later copy based on four of his prints. It is a prime example of how motifs which circulated through prints inspired artists in their own creative process.
Long considered to be drawn from life by the Flemish artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder (around 1527-1569) when he crossed the Alps, this panoramic composition is in fact a later copy based on four of his prints. It is a prime example of how motifs which circulated through prints inspired artists in their own creative process.
Provenance
possibly Joris Hofnaegel (1542-1601); part of an album compiled in England, around 1800 (with D.1978.PG.9 and D.1952.RW.4007); W. Thompson; purchased from him by Colnaghi (London), 21 October 1948; purchased there by Count Antoine Seilern, London (1901-1978), 28 October 1948 (£5000, including D.1978.PG.9); Princes Gate Bequest 1978 (Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Samuel Courtauld Trust, 1981) See Seilern 1955, no. 9, n.2, letter from Dr. Schilling to Seilern re: the provenance as given above.
Exhibition History
Drawings Gallery Display - Traces: Renaissance Drawings for Flemish Prints, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 18/06/2022-25/09/2022
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
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
Orenstein, Nadine M., 'Followers and Fakers of Pieter Bruegel' in 'IFAR' [International Foundation for Art Research], 2003 - pp. 12-17; 6, 3
pp. 14-15
fig. 5 on p. 14
as Master of the Mountain Landscapes; in file
Mielke, Hans, Pieter Bruegel: die Zeichnungen, Turnhout 1996
no. A 6 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. 138, 140
fig. 1 on p. 138 ...More
The age of Bruegel: Netherlandish drawings in the sixteenth century, National Gallery of Art, Washington and Pierpont Morgan Library, New York, 1986-87
pp. 92 note 3 and 98 under no. 27
in file for PG.9
The Northern Landscape. Flemish, Dutch and British Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, The Drawing Center, New York; Courtauld Institute Galleries, 1986
p. 92 note 16 under no. 34
Mantegna to Cezanne: Master Drawings from the Courtauld, British Museum, London, 1983
cat. no. 21
ill. p. 31
in file
Oberhuber, Konrad, 'Bruegel's early landscape drawings' in 'Master Drawings', 1981 - pp. 146-56; XIX
pp. 149-50
pl. 24
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. 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. 94-95, 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. 8
in file
Catalogue raisonné des estampes de Bruegel l'Ancien, Bibliothèque royale Albert Ier, Brussels, 1969
pp. 30, 38
in file for PG.9
Münz, Ludwig, Bruegel: the drawings, London 1961
no. 15 on p. 209
pl. 15
in file for PG.9
Prints & Drawings of Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Los Angeles County Museum, March-May 1961, 1961
p. 16
de Tolnay, Charles, 'Remarques sur quelques dessins de Bruegel l'ancien et sur un dessin de Bosch récemment réapparus' in 'Bulletin Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique', Sept. 1960 - pp. 3-28; 1/2
pp. 9, 13, 28
https://www.fine-arts-museum.be/uploads/pages/files/be_brl01_bulletin_mrbab_kmskb_1960_1_2.pdf
Grossmann, Fritz, 'Bruegel, Pieter the Elder' in Encyclopedia of World Art, vol. II, New York, Toronto and London 1960, cols. 632-51
col. 633
as Bruegel
Haverkamp Begemann, E., William Buytewech, Amsterdam 1959
p. 137 under no. 106
in file for PG.9
Seilern, Count Antoine, Flemish paintings & drawings at 56 Princes Gate, London SW 7, London 1955; I
no. 8
pl. XXV
de Tolnay, Charles, The drawings of Pieter Bruegel the elder: with a critical catalogue, London 1952
p. 60, no. 20
ill.
Popham, A.E., 'Two landscape drawings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder' in 'Burlington Magazine', 1949 - pp. 319-20; XCI
pp. 319-20
fig. 17
in file for PG.9 ...Less
pp. 14-15
fig. 5 on p. 14
as Master of the Mountain Landscapes; in file
Mielke, Hans, Pieter Bruegel: die Zeichnungen, Turnhout 1996
no. A 6 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. 138, 140
fig. 1 on p. 138 ...More
The age of Bruegel: Netherlandish drawings in the sixteenth century, National Gallery of Art, Washington and Pierpont Morgan Library, New York, 1986-87
pp. 92 note 3 and 98 under no. 27
in file for PG.9
The Northern Landscape. Flemish, Dutch and British Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, The Drawing Center, New York; Courtauld Institute Galleries, 1986
p. 92 note 16 under no. 34
Mantegna to Cezanne: Master Drawings from the Courtauld, British Museum, London, 1983
cat. no. 21
ill. p. 31
in file
Oberhuber, Konrad, 'Bruegel's early landscape drawings' in 'Master Drawings', 1981 - pp. 146-56; XIX
pp. 149-50
pl. 24
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. 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. 94-95, 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. 8
in file
Catalogue raisonné des estampes de Bruegel l'Ancien, Bibliothèque royale Albert Ier, Brussels, 1969
pp. 30, 38
in file for PG.9
Münz, Ludwig, Bruegel: the drawings, London 1961
no. 15 on p. 209
pl. 15
in file for PG.9
Prints & Drawings of Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Los Angeles County Museum, March-May 1961, 1961
p. 16
de Tolnay, Charles, 'Remarques sur quelques dessins de Bruegel l'ancien et sur un dessin de Bosch récemment réapparus' in 'Bulletin Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique', Sept. 1960 - pp. 3-28; 1/2
pp. 9, 13, 28
https://www.fine-arts-museum.be/uploads/pages/files/be_brl01_bulletin_mrbab_kmskb_1960_1_2.pdf
Grossmann, Fritz, 'Bruegel, Pieter the Elder' in Encyclopedia of World Art, vol. II, New York, Toronto and London 1960, cols. 632-51
col. 633
as Bruegel
Haverkamp Begemann, E., William Buytewech, Amsterdam 1959
p. 137 under no. 106
in file for PG.9
Seilern, Count Antoine, Flemish paintings & drawings at 56 Princes Gate, London SW 7, London 1955; I
no. 8
pl. XXV
de Tolnay, Charles, The drawings of Pieter Bruegel the elder: with a critical catalogue, London 1952
p. 60, no. 20
ill.
Popham, A.E., 'Two landscape drawings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder' in 'Burlington Magazine', 1949 - pp. 319-20; XCI
pp. 319-20
fig. 17
in file for PG.9 ...Less
Inscriptions
Watermark: Watermark: none.
Inscription: Recto: lower left corner, brown ink: “BB” [? Ink is blurred and the paper in this area abraded so unclear if is actually an inscription or part of the foliage]. Verso: upper left corner, red chalk: “No. 19.”; lower centre, graphite, abraded and now only ascenders of letters visible, could match 16th-century hand as seen on PG.9 (though the ascenders indicate a different inscription); lower right corner, graphite, Colnaghi number and price: “A 15844 / c[…]/-/-”; lower right corner, graphite, modern hand (same on PG.9): “43 I”.
Collector's mark: none.
Inscription: Recto: lower left corner, brown ink: “BB” [? Ink is blurred and the paper in this area abraded so unclear if is actually an inscription or part of the foliage]. Verso: upper left corner, red chalk: “No. 19.”; lower centre, graphite, abraded and now only ascenders of letters visible, could match 16th-century hand as seen on PG.9 (though the ascenders indicate a different inscription); lower right corner, graphite, Colnaghi number and price: “A 15844 / c[…]/-/-”; lower right corner, graphite, modern hand (same on PG.9): “43 I”.
Collector's mark: none.
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