Engraving by Andries Jacobsz. Stock (Orenstein 1996, 270)
Signed ‘Hh exc.’ by Hendrick Hondius

20.4 x 12.3 cm

Transcription of Inscription:

IOANNES AQUANUS, COLONIENSIS. PICTOR. 
Picturae Aquanus primus¹ se tradit ab annis : 
     Quae praestat juvenis vix potuere viri.
Germanum juvenem cúrri temneret Itala tellus ;
     Mox artem observans Roma magistra stupet.

Translation of Inscription:

Hans von Aachen 
Aachen gave himself over to painting from his earliest years.² What the youth accomplished men could scarcely do.  Although the Italian land despised the German youth, soon, observing his skill, mistress Rome was amazed.

Orenstein 1996, Stock no. 270 
 RKD artists biography

1. Sic.
2. Reading “primis” for the text’s impossible “primus”.  Cf. also 141. Adam Elsheimer, “primis … ab annis”.