Archduke Albert before Mariemont Castle (Germany)
| Object type | Painting |
| Genre | Landscape |
| Date | 1617-1618 |
| Dimensions | 9.3 x 15 cm |
| Support | Copper |
| Medium | Oil |
| Our attribution | Jan Brueghel the Elder |
| Other authorities | Ertz 2008-10, #559 Ertz 1979, #321 |
| Location/Most Recent Sale | Germany, Private Collection |
| Tags | Castle, Mariemont, Archdukes, Nobles, Peasants, Road |
There are many variants of this painting of Mariemont Castle (Ertz 1979, Diaz Padron 1992). See for example the Richmond Landscape with Archduke Albert and Mariemont Castle, the Dijon Landscape with Mariemont Castle, and the Madrid The Archdukes and Company before Mariemont Castle. Ertz implies that the Richmond version is the prime (Ertz 1979, p. 177).
What Ertz doesn't mention in calling these works variants of one another is that the others are huge works on canvas whereas the present version is a tiny copper miniature. The sequence of making is clearly established because the first two versions show Mariemont before the additions to the building, and this tiny miniature shows it in its new state as also does the Madrid Five Senses series.
Freedberg, in his review, doubts this attribution. I disagree.