Dear Friends

Bruegel’s Mirror

Artist Laurence Smith lives in Cornwall in the south-west of England, and earlier this year held an exhibition at the Royal Cornwall Museum entitled Bruegel’s Mirror. Pieter Bruegel was a 16th century Flemish painter and printmaker, famous for his rural landscapes capturing images of people at work. Laurence has painted in oils, a number of Bruegel’s drawings and engraved designs in the hope that by enlarging them and painting them in Bruegel’s colours, these extraordinary graphic works will become better known and more accessible. Laurence explains “The Beekeepers is a pen and ink drawing dated 1567–8. Inscribed in Flemish in the left corner are the words: He who knows where the nest is has the knowledge; he who robs it has the nest.” This is one of Bruegel’s most enigmatic drawings. One interpretation suggests that the bee hives represent the Catholic parish churches that were raided by Protestant iconoclasts in 1566. Many churches (skeps) in Flanders were emptied of their clergy (bees) and their contents (honey).

Martin Buckle in woven beekeeping mask

© JUDI DURBER

Laurence’s painting of The Beekeepers is for sale. He has generously pledged to donate £500 to Bees for Development Trust upon its sale (the price is £700). The painting measures 75 x 62 cm. If you would like more information about purchasing, please contact BfD Trust.

A friend of Laurence, Martin Buckle, is a well-known skep maker. Martin has made a 16th century bee hood and wicker mask as used by the beekeepers drawn by Pieter Bruegel. Martin reports that he can see through the mask very well and it keeps away the bees!

For more information on the Bruegel’s Mirror exhibition see www.pieter-bruegel.co.uk