"For much of the history of art painting was dominated by religious and mythological themes as well as portraiture of monarchs and the ruling elite. This is due to the fact that the church and the aristocracy commissioned the vast majority of the art being made but in the 16th century. That started to change and particularly in the low countries what constitutes modern day Belgium and the Netherlands. A trading Mecca, the low countries saw the rapid emergence of a merchant middle class in this period with enough money to patronize local artists. It makes sense that they wanted to see art that reflected their own lives." - Evan Puschak
Video: Bruegel: Birth Of A New Genre
|
|
