River landscape with a shepherd on a hill to the right. From: Views of the coast of Campania.

Paul or Paulus Brill (1554-1626) was a Flemish painter and printmaker principally known for his landscapes. He spent most of his active career in Rome and his Italianate landscapes proved highly influential both in Italy and Northern Europe. He enjoyed extensive and prolonged patronage from three successive popes and in 1621 became director of the Accademia di San Luca, the artists' academy in Rome. It was a reflection of his status that he was the first foreigner to hold this position.

Paul Bril initially painted in the late Mannerist tyle developed by his brother Matthijs. These early landscapes are in the Flemish tradition inaugurated by Joachim Patinir and Pieter Bruegel the Elder and further developed by his own brother. Works from this early period were characterised by a picturesque arrangement of landscape elements and violent contrasts between light and dark. These early paintings also show strong contrasts of forms to create a sense of dramatic motion. Bril contrasted steep cliffs with chasms or dark, twisting trees growing from hills next to flat, sunlit pastures.

To a large extent this fairly early print (it is dated 1590), reflects these stylistic qualities. It certainly precedes his calmer, more classicising style from c. 1605. The etching depicts two men in a small rowing boat on a river at centre, trees at left, several shepherds with their flock of sheep on a hill at right, and a city and mountains in the background at right. It is from the series Views of the coast of Campania, and is often given that title.

A near-identical oil on copper painting identical to this etching (not in reverse) described as 'Circle of Paul Bril', and entitled A mountainous river landscape with travelers crossing a bridge, a town on the mountainside to the right was sold at Christie's, Amsterdam on 25 November 2014.

See:

Christie's, Amsterdam, 'Old Masters, 19th Century and Impressionist Art', https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/circle-of-paul-bril-antwerpbreda-15534-1626-rome-5847764-details.aspx

Wikipedia, 'Paul Bril', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Bril

Dr Mark Stocker   Curator, Historical International Art   October 2018