# The question of attribution

At the time of its acquisition by the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille, the work was attributed to Bruegel the Elder, since this type of panoramic landscape, with a bird's-eye view of the life and activities of the inhabitants of Flanders, was the type invented by the painter.

It seemed obvious that this painting was by his brush. However, recent restoration work has brought to light an undercoat of red paint only used from the 17th century onwards. What's more, we know that his son, Pierre II said the Younger, made numerous copies of his father's works. Thanks to this information, the painting was finally attributed to him.

Today, thirteen copies of the Census of Bethlehem are known, three of which are signed by the workshop of Bruegel the Younger. However, these copies are never totally similar to the original. For example, the choice of colors, particularly in the drapery, differs between father and son. Likewise, the Younger adds details to his copies that were only found in his father's preparatory drawings and not on the final work, and certain scenes diverge or are missing. It can be fun to find these differences with the original painting by Brueghel the Elder in the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, and it's a marvellous piece of observation to see and appreciate the meticulous touch of this dynasty of painters.

Feel free to contemplate Brueghel the Elder's version of the Census of Bethlehem and compare it to his son's:

https://artsandculture.google.com/story/sAWxGcrY3z1hKQ