Naval Battle in the Strait of Messina

Frans Huys (in 1561)

Ask anything

Alessandro Nucera asked

Buongiorno,
il disegno originale o uno schizzo si possono con certezza assegnare a P. Brueghel?
Quali considerazioni si possono fare in merito a una possibile assegnazione al Brueghel?
Grazie e Cordiali saluti
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

Dear Alessandro, On this work is Bruegel's name mentioned as 'inventor', which means that he made the drawings on which the etching is based. Only one of his designs has been saved and this drawing happens to be in the Boijmans collection:
https://www.boijmans.nl/collectie/kunstwerken/90731/gezicht-op-reggio-di-calabria-aan-de-straat-van-messina
This drawing is attributed to Bruegel because of its style and, of course, because of its connection to the etching. However, the washes must have been applied later, by another artist. You can find all information in the online catalogue about early Netherlandish drawings: https://www.boijmans.nl/en/collection/research/netherlandish-drawings-of-the-fifteenth-and-sixteenth-centuries. In this catalogue you can also find other literature that might be interesting for you. Kind regards, Els

Thank you. Your question has been submitted.

Unfortunately something has gone wrong while sending your question. Please try again.

Request high-res image

More information

Read aloud

In this print Bruegel presents a bird’s-eye view of the whole of the Strait of Messina from the north. The Sicilian harbourtown Messina is shown on the right. Reggio di Calabria on the Italian mainland is on the left. In depicting this town Bruegel used a preliminary drawing (now in Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen).

Collection book

Order

Specifications

Title	Naval Battle in the Strait of Messina
Material and technique	Etching and engraving
Object type	Print > Two-dimensional object > Art object
Location	This object is in storage

Dimensions	Height 422 mm Width 710 mm
Artists	Graphic artist: Frans Huys Designer: Pieter Bruegel (I) Publisher: Hieronymus Cock
Accession number	BdH 10077 (PK)
Credits	From the estate of Dr J.C.J. Bierens de Haan, 1951
Department	Drawings & Prints
Acquisition date	1951
Creation date	in 1561
Collector	Collector / J.C.J. Bierens de Haan
Material	Paper > Vegetable material > Organic material > Material > Material and technique
Object	Print > Two-dimensional object > Art object
Technique	Etching > Manual > Intaglio printing techniques > Printing technique > Technique > Material and technique Engraving > Engraved > Manual > Intaglio printing techniques > Printing technique > Technique > Material and technique Engraving > Engraved > Manual > Intaglio printing techniques > Printing technique > Technique > Material and technique
Geographical origin	Southern Netherlands > The Netherlands > Western Europe > Europe