Artwork
Water
Water is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jan Brueghel, the elder. It dates from 1610 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon.
About this work
Overview
Water, an oil painting created by Jan Brueghel the Elder in 1610, is an allegorical work characterized by a serene and vibrant natural setting.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a woman in a flowing white gown, surrounded by lush vegetation, water, and diverse wildlife. Her tranquil pose amidst abundant life suggests a symbolic celebration of nature's harmony and fertility.
Technique & Style
Brueghel's Flemish Baroque style is evident in the meticulous rendering of textures, from feathers and scales to foliage, and the balanced composition that enhances the sense of calm. The palette contributes to the overall serenity of the scene.
History & Provenance
As a prominent Flemish Baroque painter, Jan Brueghel the Elder, son of Pieter Bruegel the Elder, often collaborated with notable artists like Peter Paul Rubens. 'Water' is currently part of the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon's collection.
Context
Within Brueghel's diverse oeuvre of landscapes and still lifes, 'Water' reflects his ability to convey allegorical themes through idyllic natural scenes, a hallmark of early 17th-century Flemish art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Brueghel the Elder ( BROY-gəl, US also BROO-gəl; Dutch: ; 1568 – 13 January 1625) was a Flemish painter and draughtsman.
The Mocking of Latona
Abundance and the Four Elements
Landscape with Ceres (Allegory of Earth)
Abundance and the Four Elements
Earth
Paradise with the Four Elements
The Earth
The wedding of Thetis and Peleus
Ceres and the Four Elements
Landscape with Orpheus and the Animals
Actaeon is changed into a stag and killed by his own dogs
judgement of Paris