A pair of spectacles served as the signature for many of this artist's cabinet paintings, a visual pun on his surname. Born in 1554, likely in Antwerp, he spent the bulk of his professional life in Rome, where he transformed the trajectory of European landscape painting through his transition from Mannerist intensity to a more balanced, classical aesthetic.
Early Career and Relocation
The son of painter Mathys Baertmaker, he likely trained in Antwerp alongside his brothers. By 1574, he departed his homeland for France, residing for a time in Lyon. Before 1580, he reached Rome to join his brother Matthijs, an established painter. Following Matthijs' death in 1583, he assumed many of his brother's outstanding commissions and took up residence on Via della Croce.
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His reputation flourished through extensive work on major Roman ecclesiastical sites. His projects included decorative landscape cycles for the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, the Vatican Palace, and the Scala Santa. His influence extended to powerful families, including the Colonna, Borghese, Mattei, and Barberini, as well as Cardinal Federico Borromeo.
Artistic Evolution
His initial style drew heavily from Flemish traditions, featuring high horizons and dramatic, violent contrasts between light and dark. Around 1605, his compositions shifted toward a calmer, classicizing approach with lower horizons. This evolution served as a critical bridge between the panoramic views of Joachim Patinir and the ideal landscapes later perfected by Claude Lorrain and Nicolas Poussin.
Leadership and Legacy
In 1621, he attained the directorship of the Accademia di San Luca, marking the first time a foreign artist held this position in Rome. His studio became a primary destination for Northern European artists visiting Italy. Among those he trained were Agostino Tassi, Willem van Nieulandt II, and his own son, Cyriacus. He remained active until his death in Rome in 1626.
Fast facts
- Born: 1554
- Died: 1626
- Birthplace: Antwerp or Breda
- Primary Residence: Rome
- Occupations: Painter, printmaker, draftsperson
- Accademia di San Luca Director: 1621
- Citizenship: Habsburg Netherlands
Questions readers ask
What stylistic change marked his later work?
He moved from a high-horizon, high-contrast Mannerist style toward a calmer, more classicizing composition with lower horizons and softer light transitions.
Why did he sign works with glasses?
The spectacles were a visual pun on his name, as 'bril' is the Dutch and Flemish word for glasses.
Achievements
- Notable work: River view with Large Rock
- Notable work: Winter Landscape
- Notable work: Mountainous Landscape with Saint Jerome
