Pieter Verbruggen

Pieter Verbruggen was an artist active across the 17th century, with his documented career spanning the years 1619 through 1686. His surviving known output is concentrated primarily in the medium of drawing, focusing on complex, preparatory designs for architectural and sculptural commissions. Fifteen of these detailed drawings are currently represented in major museum collections worldwide.

Verbruggen’s work consists largely of elaborate proposals for large-scale monuments, niches, and religious items, demonstrating a mastery of both technical perspective and monumental design. Key examples of his drafting skill include Ontwerp voor een grafmonument met een gisant, a detailed study for a recumbent effigy, and Ontwerp voor een muurnis met een staande heilige. His design process is further illustrated by the sheet titled Design for a monument (recto); Architectural sketches (verso), which encapsulates both a finished presentation and preliminary concept work. Other important designs include Design for a reliquary and the devotional study Design for a sculptural group with God the Father in a niche.

The significance of Verbruggen’s oeuvre is cemented by its preservation in leading international institutions, including the Rijksmuseum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As these drawings are frequently held in the public domain, they are often digitally reproduced, allowing researchers and collectors access to high-quality prints. The availability of this downloadable artwork provides continued reference for these historic, museum-quality designs.