One of the highlights in the forthcoming Old Master sale in April is “The Bird Trap”, a serene winter landscape by Pieter Brueghel the Younger.
127 versions of this composition are known, of which only 46 (including the present work) are believed to be by the artist. The rest were painted by his assistants or by followers. The sheer number of versions is testament to the popularity of this composition, which is today one of the most familiar works in the Brueghel family’s oeuvre. The prototype for the painting is by Pieter Brueghel the Elder, Pieter Brueghel the Younger’s father; it is entitled “Hunters in the Snow” and kept at the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.
At first glance, this winter landscape evokes a harmonious winter scene with skaters and other figures enjoying themselves on the ice. However, the title of the picture suggests a hidden meaning. Just like a bird trap closing on its prey (in the lower right-hand corner) the ice could break and this peaceful scene could turn into a catastrophic series of events. The fragility of life becomes the central theme of this most serene of landscapes.
Video: Pieter Brueghel II. | The Bird Trap
Auction Old Master Paintings, Tuesday 19 April 2016
Information: Alexander Strasoldo and Damian Brenninkmeyer, experts in Old Master Paintings
(myART MAGAZINE No. 07/2016)
Auction, Tuesday 19 April, 5 pm
Viewing from Saturday 9 April 2016
Palais Dorotheum Vienna
View the online catalogue!