Solo show
Bruegel in Black & White: Three Grisailles Reunited
from 4 Feb 2016 at Courtauld Institute of Art
· London
In 2016, the Courtauld Institute of Art presented a landmark exhibition uniting three surviving grisaille panel paintings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Painted entirely in shades of grey, black, and white, these works demonstrate Bruegel's extraordinary technical mastery and his ability to evoke sculptural depth and emotional intensity without colour.
Grisaille painting was a demanding and prestigious technique in the sixteenth century, often used to simulate stone or bronze relief. Bruegel's three panels — rarely seen together — offered visitors a unique opportunity to study his draughtsmanship, compositional skill, and the subtle tonal range he achieved within a deliberately restricted palette.
The exhibition brought together loans from major international collections, making it an exceptional scholarly and public event for anyone interested in Netherlandish Renaissance art.
Grisaille painting was a demanding and prestigious technique in the sixteenth century, often used to simulate stone or bronze relief. Bruegel's three panels — rarely seen together — offered visitors a unique opportunity to study his draughtsmanship, compositional skill, and the subtle tonal range he achieved within a deliberately restricted palette.
The exhibition brought together loans from major international collections, making it an exceptional scholarly and public event for anyone interested in Netherlandish Renaissance art.
About the artist
Pieter Bruegel the Elder
1525–1569 · Dutch and Flemish Renaissance painting
Pieter Bruegel the Elder was among the most significant artists of Dutch and Flemish Renaissance painting, a painter and printmaker, known for his landscapes and peasant scenes ; he was a pioneer in presenting both types of subject as large paintings.
About the artist →About the venue
Courtauld Institute of Art
· London
The Courtauld Institute of Art is a self-governing college of the University of London specialising in the study of the history of art and conservation.
