View of Heidelberg
ca. 1588–89
Medium
Pen and brown ink, brush and blue and brown wash, heightened with white; framing lines in pen and brown ink
Dimensions
7 7/8 x 12 in. (20.0 x 30.5 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, David T. Schiff Gift and Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1995
Accession Number
1995.15
Tags
About this artwork
Jan Brueghel the Elder's "View of Heidelberg" (ca. 1588–89) The work, executed in pen and brown ink, brush and blue and brown wash, heightened with white; framing lines in pen and brown ink, measures 7 7/8 x 12 in. and Prints served crucial roles in disseminating artistic ideas and images across geographic and social boundaries. This work provides valuable insights into Jan Brueghel the Elder's artistic practice and the broader cultural and material contexts of its creation.
Art Historical Context
Jan Brueghel the Elder’s “View of Heidelberg,” created around 1588–89, captures a serene riverside panorama of the German city with its bridges, boats, and clustered buildings. As a young artist traveling through Europe, Brueghel used this drawing to record the distinctive topography and architectural character of Heidelberg, reflecting the growing interest in topographical views during the late Renaissance. The scene conveys both the bustling life along the river and the quiet harmony of the surrounding landscape. Executed in pen and brown ink with delicate blue and brown washes, the work is...