Artwork
Wooded landscape with a road near to a fordable pond
Wooded landscape with a road near to a fordable pond is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jan Brueghel, the elder. It dates from 1605 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. Created in 1605, this copper painting presents a tranquil woodland scene where a meandering road leads to a shallow pond.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1605, this copper painting presents a tranquil woodland scene where a meandering road leads to a shallow pond. The composition is populated by travelers, animals, and laborers, all set beneath a canopy of richly detailed trees that filter light onto the forest floor.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures a moment of everyday rural life, emphasizing the harmony between humans and nature. Figures on foot, horseback, and in carts traverse the path, while others pause to work or rest, suggesting a narrative of movement and repose within a serene environment.
Technique & Style
Executed on copper, the painting showcases Brueghel’s meticulous brushwork and fine detailing, particularly in foliage and textures. A subtle play of light and shadow creates depth, while the naturalistic rendering aligns with Flemish Baroque sensibilities that favor rich surface qualities.
History & Provenance
Jan Brueghel the Elder, a prominent early‑17th‑century Flemish artist and son of Pieter Bruegel the Elder, produced the piece during a prolific period marked by collaborations with contemporaries such as Peter Paul Rubens. The work remains a representative example of his copper landscapes.
Context
The painting reflects the Flemish Baroque interest in lush, detailed landscapes that celebrate the countryside’s bounty. Brueghel’s focus on intricate vegetation and lively human activity mirrors broader artistic trends in the Low Countries that combined natural observation with narrative depth.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Brueghel the Elder ( BROY-gəl, US also BROO-gəl; Dutch: ; 1568 – 13 January 1625) was a Flemish painter and draughtsman.
Wooded Landscape
Wooded Landscape with Travelers
Country Road with Elegant Travelers, Including Nursing Mother
Landstrasse mit Reisenden und Wirtshaus
Forestroad next to a fordable pond wiht travelers
Wooded landscape with a robbery on a forestpath
Waldige Landschaft mit Fahrweg
Waldlandschaft (zugeschrieben)
Landscape with travelers and bittern hunter
Landscape with Gentlefolk and Gypsies
Landscape with Travellers Watering their Horses