Kunsthistorisches Art Museum, Vienna

The Kunsthistorisches Museum of Art History, or Museum of Fine Arts, is the largest art museum in Vienna, and one of the most important museums in Europe. It opened in 1891, at the same time as the Natural History Museum, which is just across from it and identical in form. They were built in order to house the vast Habsburg collections, and make them accessible to the public. The museum buildings are works of art in themselves, before you even get to viewing the collections.

The Kunsthirtorisches Museum owns the world’s largest collection of paintings, by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Bruegel is known as one of the Flemish primitive artists, and is known for his depictions of everyday life. During his lifetime he lived primarily in Antwerp. While we do not know the year of his birth, we do know that he registered with the Guild of St. Luke, in Antwerp, in 1551. His works start just after this. To complicate matters, there is Pieter Bruegel the Elder, and Pieter Bruegel the Younger who was his son, and worked in much the same style. He also made many copies of his father's works. Bruegel’s work is fascinating for many reasons, but he stands out for being the first painter to paint whole scenes, while depicting the people in it with clothing and objects of his time, many of which are secular in nature. This allows the viewer a fascinating look into the 16th Century.

The detailed image from the painting ‘Children’s Games’, depicts the pair in the front shown playing with hoops.

Bruegel’s sketches date from 1552, while the paintings begin in 1557, after he returned from his visit to Rome. In total, there are 58 of his works which have survived, these comprise both sketches and paintings. The painting ‘Children’s Games' was created in 1560. It shows over 230 children, playing 83 different games. Bruegel’s composition is without precedent or parallel, and can be seen as an encyclopaedia of 16th Century children’s games.

In what may be the earliest known pub scene, Bruegel shows us a 16th Century peasant wedding, painted around 1568. This snapshot type painting, is a realistic record of a Flemish peasants wedding. The bride is shown sitting in front of a green tapestry, with a paper crown hanging over her. The groom is not present at the wedding feast, as was the Flemish tradition. The porridge dishes are being carried in on an unhinged door. 

In Bruegel’s painting ‘Peasant Dance’ (1568), he has depicted the opening dance of the country fair. This traditional leaping dance, was carried out by two pairs only, and preceded the general dance.

One of Bruegel’s most famous paintings, is ‘The Tower of Babel’ (1563).  Perspective is provided by the Flemish port, which seems tiny in comparison with the tower. Bruegel depicts countless technical and craftsmanship processes of the time, in this painting.

‘A Visit at the Leasehold Farm’, is dated to around 1597. This was created by Bruegel the Younger.