Coastal landscape with the calling of Peter and Andrew

Executed on copper, the painting showcases Brueghel’s meticulous attention to detail and his skill in rendering light. Fine, expressive brushwork captures the shimmering surface of the sea and the texture of the surrounding terrain, while a subtle palette creates depth and atmospheric perspective.

The piece belongs to the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister. It reflects Brueghel’s early‑career output, a period when he frequently collaborated with contemporaries such as Peter Paul Rubens and contributed to the development of Flemish Baroque landscape painting.

During the early seventeenth century, Flemish artists often blended genre scenes with religious themes, a practice evident in this work. Brueghel’s family background in painting and his engagement with multiple genres positioned him to fuse naturalistic observation with narrative content.