Dorfstraße

1596–1625 · Workplace

Antwerp

4 October 1601

Burgher of Antwerp and dean of the Guild of Saint Luke

In September 1601 Brueghel, a free master of the Guild of Saint Luke since 1597, was elected its dean, but only a burgher of Antwerp could hold the post. On 4 October he was registered as a burgher, 'Jan Bruegel, Peetersone, schilder, van Bruessele', took office as dean and was re-elected in 1602.

1603

Death of his first wife, Isabella de Jode

In the year their daughter Paschasia was born (Rubens was her godfather, as he had been for their eldest son Jan in 1601), Isabella died, leaving the painter with two young children; it has been speculated that her death was linked to the birth.

summer 1604

Studies Emperor Rudolf II's collections in Prague

Brueghel spent the summer of 1604 in Prague at the court of Emperor Rudolf II, which attracted Northern Mannerists such as Bartholomeus Spranger and Hans von Aachen. The emperor's encyclopaedic collection of rarities and animals, and Dürer's animal pictures he saw there, spurred him to 'catalogue' nature in his paintings; he also made a painted copy of Dürer's watercolour The Madonna with a Multitude of Animals.

1604 · Workplace

Prague

April 1605

Second marriage: Catharina van Mariënburg

Brueghel remarried, taking Catharina van Mariënburg as his wife; they had eight children, among them the future painter Ambrosius Brueghel.