Definition

Proper noun A Flemish painter of the 16th century, renowned for his detailed landscapes and scenes of peasant life. He is often referred to as "Pieter Bruegel the Elder" to distinguish him from his painter sons.

Examples of Usage

• The museum is hosting a major exhibition featuring the works of Pieter Bruegel.
• Pieter Bruegel's painting "The Hunters in the Snow" is a masterpiece of Northern Renaissance art.
• Scholars study Pieter Bruegel for his intricate depictions of 16th-century Flemish culture.

Advanced Usage

• "Bruegelian" (adjective): Pertaining to or characteristic of the style of Pieter Bruegel.
  • The film's crowded, lively festival scene had a distinctly Bruegelian quality.

Variants and Related Words

• Pieter Bruegel the Elder: The full name used to specify the father, distinguishing him from Pieter Brueghel the Younger and Jan Brueghel the Elder.
• Brueghel: An alternate spelling of the family name sometimes used, particularly by his sons.
• Peasant Bruegel: A nickname reflecting his famous focus on rural and peasant life.

Synonyms

• Pieter Bruegel the Elder (the most precise synonym in an artistic context).

Related Phrases

• A Bruegel of our time: A modern idiom used to describe an artist or filmmaker known for detailed, populous scenes of everyday life.
  • The director, with his epic crowd scenes, has been called a Bruegel of our time.

Noun

1. Flemish painter of landscapes (1525-1569)