Painting Life: The Art of Pieter Bruegel, the Elder

by Robert L. Bonn

Painting Life uniquely conveys the relevance of the paintings of the old Flemish master Pieter Bruegel, The Elder (1520/5–1590) for modern audiences. Based on extensive research and first-hand observation Robert L. Bonn guides the reader through the scenes depicted in these remarkable works of art, including the "something more" so often imbedded in them—the social context in which they were painted, and how they relate to our lives today. Bonn clearly explains why Bruegel’s paintings brilliantly capture the universal conditions of conflict, work, play, folly, and chaos, as well as innumerable pieces of biblical and folk wisdom. His paintings can be found in collections all over the world, including Madrid, Vienna, Brussels, Rome, and Prague, to name a few.

Genres: Art

174 pages, Hardcover

First published March 30, 2007

About the author

Robert L. Bonn has pursued a lifelong interest in studying the dynamics of human society, teaching sociology, and conducting empirical research in the diverse areas of religion, education, criminal justice and social change. During a career that spanned three decades he was the author of a major textbook, Criminology and many journal articles on the subjects of conflict resolution, the clergy occupation, and other topics in crime and criminal justice.