Animal Studies (Donkey, Cats, Monkeys, Dogs)

Executed on oak panel, these lively and spontaneous animal studies (GG 6985 und GG 6988) painted from nature only entered the collection in 1932. Brueghel often relied on such nature studies, carefully depicting not only flowers but also animals to use in his paintings.
Brueghel repeatedly included these dog studies in his pictures of Diana, the goddess of the hunt – compositions for which he also made use of his study of a dead boar.