Allegory of the Four Elements by Jan Brueghel the Elder. Four young children representing the elements gather in a lush landscape with animals, fire, and a cornucopia.

Allegory of the Four Elements

Jan Brueghel the Elder

1600 · Medium Not Listed

A masterful Flemish Baroque allegory depicting nature's four elements through playful figures in a rich landscape.

$169

For the selected configuration

From $129

6 frame sizes

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Where it works

A balanced artwork with steady presence with warm wood and umber notes — holds a composed wall with restraint.

Often works in
Dining Room · Living Room · Study
Placement
Strong over sofas, beds, buffets, or wider open walls
Walls
Reads strongest on light or mid-tone walls
Color notes
Rich brown, Charcoal black, Soft gray

About the piece

Painted around 1600 by Jan Brueghel the Elder, this intricate work personifies Earth, Air, Fire, and Water through four young children. Each figure interacts with specific symbols—a cornucopia of flora, a soaring bird, a hearth of fire, and fresh-caught fish—all rendered with the lush detail and luminous color characteristic of the Flemish master.

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