Bretwalda

[A. S., Ruler of Britain.] ( Hist.) A title a igned by the Saxon chronicle to those kings of the Heptarchy who extended their government over the entire nation. The following are mentioned by Bede, but Hallam and other historians doubt whether any sovereign in those early times po e ed such authority: A. D. 492, Ella, king of Su ex; 571, Ceawlin, king of We ex; 594. Ethelbert, king of Kent; 615, Redwald, king of the West Angles; 623, Edwin, king of Deira; 634, Oswald, king of Bernicia; 643, Oswy, king of Bernicia. Breughel, (bro i'gel,) the name of a celebrated family of Flemish painters. -1. B. , PETER, the son of a peasant, was born at Breughel, a village in the neighborhood of Breda. He was placed under Peter Koek of Aalst (Alost), whose daughter he subsequently married. Having learned painting under that master, he travelled into France and Italy. He took many views by the way, particularly among the Alps. Returning from Italy, he fixed his residence at Antwerp, and was admitted into the academy of that city in 1551. Here he lived for a long time with a mistre , whom he would have married, but for a habit she had of lying; which so displeased him, that he transferred his affections to the daughter of his old master, now dead, and obtained her hand upon condition of residing at Bru els, where she lived. As he lay on his death-bed, he ordered many of his paintings, which were either satirical or licentious, to be brought before him, and made his wife burn them in his presence. The dates of his birth and death are unknown. He painted chiefly comic subjects, after the manner of Jerome Bosche, whom he excelled; and he has been considered by many inferior to Teniers alone in that branch of art. His composition has been objected to; but his drawing is correct and spirited, though not very highly finished. It was his frequent custom to disguise himself and mix with the peasantry at their festivals and games; and the happine with which he transferred the living actions he thus witne ed to the canvas, has been aptly compared to Molière's, though in a different kind of satire. Besides comic subjects, he painted landscapes, and a few historical pictures. Two sons survived him, John and Peter.-2. B. , JAN, B. at Bru els about 1570. He received the first principles of his art from his father, and for some time he confined himself to flower-painting; but travelling into Italy, he enlarged his style, and painted landscapes, which he adorned with small figures, executed with exquisite correctne and beauty. Many painters availed themselves of his liberality, and induced him to enrich their pictures with his beautiful little figures or landscapes; among them are Steenwick, Van Baelen, Rotenhamer, Momper, . Even Rubens made use of his skill in more than one picture, in which Rubens painted the figures, and B. the landscapes, flowers, animals, and even insects. JAN B. was extremely industrious, as the great number of his pictures, and the care with which they are finished, sufficiently attest. Growing rich by his industry, he cultivated a magnificence in his apparel, and was nicknamed Velvet B. , from the material of his dre , which was a costly stuff. His touch is light and spirited, his drawing correct, and his finish elaborate. His pictures are much admired, although his landscapes are injured by an exaggerated bluene in the distance. D. about 1642.-B., PETER, the eldest son of Peter B. , was the pupil of Giles Coningsloo. From the diabolic nature of his favorite subjects he has been surnamed Hellish . He did not attain the eminence either of his father or brother. B. 1569; D. 1625.