Frans Huys (Flemish, c. 1522-1562)
after Pieter Bruegel, the elder (Flemish, 1525/30-1569)
published by Hieronymus Cock (Flemish, c. 1510–1570)
Four-Master and Two Three-Masters Anchored near a Fortified Island with a Lighthouse, from The Sailing Vessels
INV-4545
Frans Huys (Flemish, c. 1522-1562)
after Pieter Bruegel, the elder (Flemish, 1525/30-1569)
published by Hieronymus Cock (Flemish, c. 1510–1570)c. 1560–62, published 1665
Four-Master and Two Three-Masters Anchored near a Fortified Island with a Lighthouse, from The Sailing Vessels
Frans Huys (Flemish, c. 1522-1562) after Pieter Bruegel, the elder (Flemish, 1525/30-1569) published by Hieronymus Cock (Flemish, c. 1510–1570) →etchingprint
Date
c. 1560–62, published 1665
Medium
Engraving in black on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
22.2 × 28.8 cm (8 3/4 × 11 3/8 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Clarence Buckingham Collection
The impressive detail and accuracy of the ships represented in this engraving suggest that Bruegel probably made studies of vessels in the Antwerp harbor. He carefully renders the intricacy of rigging, the geometry of masts, and curved hulls. Bruegel’s interest in such vessels belonged to a wider fascination among Antwerp citizens with the shipping trade and naval power that had become so central to the city’s booming economy. Residents of this maritime hub took great pride in the engineering of its ships and the expertise of its sailors and navigators.
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