This exhibition includes 28 paintings created by the prominent masters of the sixteenth to seventeenth century, which come from one of the largest private collections in Russia.

At the core of this collection are the works of the renowned successors to the tradition of Pieter Brueghel the Elder, notably his sons, Pieter Brueghel the Younger, dubbed ‘Hell Bruegel’, Jan Brueghel the Elder, also known as ‘Velvet Bruegel’, and his grandson Jan Brueghel the Younger. Their most seminal paintings are on display at the State Hermitage Museum.

The Brueghels’ works are the embodiment of the immortal sententiae born by human wisdom, imbued with ‘peasant’ humour coupled with tragic irony. The Brueghels often refer to proverbs and allegories, offering a moral or a lesson to the viewer. Having left a lot unexplained, they encourage viewers to ponder about the truths of faith and mysteries of the Kingdom of God, both the terrestrial and the celestial one.

The masterpieces painted by the celebrated Brueghel dynasty are displayed alongside the works created by their contemporaries, who practised various genres, namely Sebastiaan Vrancx, Jan van Kessel the Elder, Joos de Momper and Frans Francken II.

The scope and concept of the exhibition give visitors a unique insight into the evolution and story of the Brueghel tradition as a part of the Flemish art over the entire seventeenth century.