BREUGEL (Peter), an eminent painter, commonly called Old Breugel, was born at a village of the same name near Breda, in the year 1565; and was the first pupil of Peter Cock, whose daughter he married. It was customary with him to dress like a country-man, in order to be more easily admitted into the company of country-people, and be allowed to join in their frolics, by which means he became perfectly acquainted with their manners and gestures, of which he made excellent use in his pictures. He travelled to France and Italy, and for a long time studied landscapes on the mountains of Tyrol. His humorous turn of mind displayed itself in all his pictures, which generally consisted of country-dances, marriages, sports, and diversions; tho' he sometimes performed pieces from the historical parts of the holy Scriptures. At his return from Italy, he settled at Antwerp, and in his last illness caused his wife to gather together all his immodest pieces and burn them before his face. He died at Antwerp; but in what year cannot be ascertained.—He had a son named Peter, who also distinguished himself by his paintings; and John, the subject of the following article.
Of the works of old Breugel, the great duke of Tuscany has, Christ carrying his cross, with a great number of figures; and a country feast. The emperor has the tower of Babel, the massacre of the Innocents, and the conversion of St Paul, of his painting: the elector Palatine, a landscape, with St Philip baptizing queen Candace's eunuch; and St John preaching in the wilderness, with a great many figures.