The Drawings of Paul Bril: A Study of Their Role in 17th Century European Landscape

After defining Bril as a draughtsman, this study clarifies aspects of his working methods and determines the types and functions of his drawings. It places Bril in the context of contemporary landscape draughtmanship and analyzes Bril's specific contribution to the evolution of the genre in Rome, from the mannerist views of Girolamo Muziano to the pastoral landscapes and seascapes of Claude Lorrain. Bril's position as a guiding force to two generations of Netherlandish artists who visited Rome a…