Archive Display | Behind the Scenes: Brueghel’s A Village Fair

In 1961, the Mackelvie Trust purchased A Village Fair (Village Festival in Honour of Saint Hubert and Saint Anthony), circa 1614–19 by Flemish artist Pieter Brueghel the Younger (1564–1638) for the Gallery’s collection.

For the past three years, Gallery Paintings Conservator Genevieve Silvester has worked on this 400-year-old masterpiece. Employing a holistic approach, she gained a thorough understanding of the painting before beginning its physical treatment through examination, analysis and research. The result is a painting that Silvester believes is closer to the original intent of the artist.

This display showcases the materials, techniques and processes employed in the restoration alongside items from the Gallery’s archive. A Village Fair is on display in the Mackelvie Gallery as part of the exhibition Threads of Time: Travel, Trade and Textiles.

Image credit: Pieter Brueghel the Younger,  A Village fair (Village festival in honour of Saint Hubert and Saint Anthony), circa 1614-1619. Mackelvie Trust Collection, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1961. Frame purchased with the assistance of the Mackelvie Society, 2023.