flemish cabinet paintings

Jan Brueghel the Elder, Flemish, 1568–1625,
and Hendrik van Balen, Flemish, c. 1574/75–1632
Abundance with the Four Elements, c. 1615
Oil on panel
24 3/8 x 41 3/8 in. (62 x 105 cm)
Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid
P01399

Small, finely executed paintings of allegories and mythological and biblical narratives set into landscapes were a specialty of Flemish painters in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Collected eagerly by patrons in Spain and across Europe, these works present and enhance the variety and beauty of the natural world. Flemish artists typically collaborated on these compositions based on their respective artistic strengths, such as landscapes or figures. Jan Brueghel the Elder was one of the most admired artists of this tradition, and his works, especially those executed on copper, were highly valued by the Spanish royal family. Their intimacy of scale and virtuosity in paint handling encourage close, studied viewing.

A fully illustrated catalogue accompanies the exhibition, with an essay by Javier Portús on the Spanish royal taste in collecting and the role of the sala reservada, as well as a contemporary response to understanding the nude in Renaissance and Baroque painting by Jill Burke. The catalogue is published by the Clark and distributed by Yale University Press. Call the Museum Store at 413 458 0520 to order.