Brueghel & Van Balen 

In 2025, to mark the 400th anniversary of his death, the Museum of Flanders is paying tribute to one of the most important Flemish painters of the 17th century: Jan Brueghel the Elder.

The last son of the great Pieter Bruegel the Elder, he left his mark on his time through his sense of colour and his extraordinary miniaturist touch. His extraordinary virtuosity earned him the nickname ‘Velvet’ Brueghel. From history paintings to bouquets of flowers and hunting scenes, diversity is the watchword that guides his output. A specialist in landscapes, flowers, fruit and animals, Brueghel often called on the skills of other painters to depict human figures. And in particular those of Hendrick van Balen, an artist who is little known today but who nevertheless had a brilliant career. As the head of a large studio, his works were sometimes better paid than those of Rubens.
Van Balen is renowned for his impressive church altarpieces, as well as for his more intimate paintings inspired by Greek and Roman mythology and the Bible.

Van Balen, Rubens and Brueghel were such close friends that when Brueghel died, Van Balen and Rubens were appointed joint guardians of his children.

Thanks to exceptional loans from major international museums and private collections, the Museum of Flanders is honouring its mission to shed light on forgotten artists, highlighting in particular the relationship between Brueghel and Van Balen, artists and accomplices.

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↑ Hendrick van Balen et Jan Brueghel l’Ancien, Les Noces de Thétis et de Pelée avec Apollon et le concert des Muses, Vers 1618 – Paris, musée du Louvre, département des peintures © Grand Palais Rmn / Gérard Blot