The flamboyant costumes of these three soldiers—slashed sleeves; long, bulbous breeches; and ostentatious codpieces—mark them as landsknechts, mercenary foot soldiers that made for popular subjects in sixteenth-century northern European prints. The first plays a snare drum, the second a fife, and between these the third is a standard-bearer, grappling with his enormous standard. Through them, Bruegel explores the theme of morale, the essential work of men like these to introduce pomp to the difficult life of soldiering and to keep fellow soldiers’ spirits up during the long weeks, months, and years of war. Their attenuated bodies are elegant, hardly suited for combat. What is visible of their faces is in line with the types of figures Bruegel often painted of contemporary peasant life.
Painted in grisaille, or monochromatic grays, the panel may have been inspired by popular prints of landsknechts, or perhaps made in preparation for an engraving, though no resulting print is known. Two other small grisaille panels by Bruegel survive, both depicting religious subjects. This panel is signed and dated 1568, the year before the artist’s death, and it was once in the collection of King Charles I of England.
Three Soldiers
Bruegel is best known for his large landscapes and town views populated by small, lively figures, often contemporary peasants, and illustrating biblical, allegorical, and folkloric subjects. In addition to the Frick example, only two other grisaille paintings by Bruegel are known, both on religious themes. This little panel, once in the collection of Charles I of England, represents a trio of Landsknechte, the mercenary foot soldiers whose picturesque costumes and swashbuckling airs provided popular images for printmakers in the sixteenth century. Bruegel may have executed the Frick grisaille as a model for such an engraving, although none is known, or simply as a cabinet piece. The attenuated grace of the figures in this painting may reflect currents in contemporary Italian art.
Source: Art in The Frick Collection: Paintings, Sculpture, Decorative Arts, New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1996. Updated by the Curatorial Department in May 2016.
Charles I. About 1900 until the 1950s, private collection, England. Purchased by Mr. Marks, antiques dealer, c. 1960. Stephen Bangarth and others sale, June 26, 1964, Christie’s, Lot 6, sold for £24,150 to Speelman. Agnew. Frick, 1965.
Source: Paintings in The Frick Collection: American, British, Dutch, Flemish and German. Volume I. New York: The Frick Collection, 1968.
