THE LIFE AND TIMES OF PETER BRUEGEL THE ELDER, ILLUSTRATED WITH 120 PLATES, HANDSOMELY BOUND

(BRUEGEL, Peter, the Elder) BASTELAER, René van. Peter Bruegel l’Ancien. Son Oeuvre et Son Temps. Étude Historique, Suivie des Catalogues Raisonnés de son Oeuvre Dessiné et Gravé. Brussels: G. van Oest & Cie., 1907. Two volumes. Large quarto, contemporary three-quarter dark brown crushed morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, raised bands, marbled boards and endpapers, top edges gilt. $1200.

First edition of this richly illustrated life, work, and times of Bruegel the Elder, with 120 mounted and tipped-in plates, accompanied by a catalogue raisonné of the artist’s paintings, drawings and prints. Handsomely bound in two large quarto volumes.

The great Flemish Renaissance painter and printmaker Peter Bruegel the Elder is renowned for his landscapes and peasant scenes, although a number of his early works owe a debt to the Dutch master Hieronymus Bosch. About 45 authenticated paintings by Bruegel have survived, 34 of which are described in the present catalogue raisonné; a number of others are known to have been lost. Brueghel only etched one plate himself, “The Rabbit Hunt,” but designed many engravings and etchings—278, according to Bastelaer—mostly for the Cock publishing house. Bastelaer also catalogued 104 drawings. Text in French. Freitag 1376.

Minor marginal paper repairs to half title and title page of Volume I. Fine condition, quite handsome.