Allegory of the Four Elements

The Allegory of the Four Elements proved to be an immensely popular subject matter for the Brueghel family and their studio, and for the constellation of artists working in collaboration with them. Prior to the 2010 sale, Dr. Fred G. Meijer proposed on the basis of photographs that the landscape and still-life motifs in the present work could be given to the Brueghel studio, with the figures painted by Hendrick van Balen I (private communication, 16 November 2009). Following the sale, Dr. Klaus Ertz had the opportunity to study the painting in person, and put forward the opinion that the landscape elements were in fact by Jan Brueghel II, while the figures were in his opinion from the studio of Hendrick van Balen I (written communication and certificate, 3 December 2010). A copy of Dr. Ertz's certificate is available upon request.