Jan Brueghel the Elder—called “Velvet” Brueghel for his soft brushwork—was the son of Pieter Bruegel the Elder and a key figure in the Flemish Renaissance. Born in Brussels,... View More

Jan Brueghel the Elder—called “Velvet” Brueghel for his soft brushwork—was the son of Pieter Bruegel the Elder and a key figure in the Flemish Renaissance. Born in Brussels, he apprenticed with his uncle Pieter Coecke before joining Rubens’s studio in Antwerp.

Renowned for his exquisitely detailed landscapes, flower still lifes, and allegorical scenes, Brueghel’s paintings teem with botanical accuracy and minute observation. His collaborations with Rubens—combining Jan’s landscape with Rubens’s figures—produced some of the period’s most celebrated masterpieces.

Brueghel’s innovative compositions and mastery of color inspired gardeners, collectors, and artists across Europe. As director of the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke, he influenced art practice and training in his hometown until his death.