Engraving, second state
Signed ‘Hh ex.’ by Hendrick Hondius
Copy in reverse direction to Cock 1572 engraved Pictorum

20.6 x 12.3 cm

Transcription of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

HENRICO BLESIO, BOVINATI, PICTORI.
Pictorem urbs dederat Dionatum Eburonia, pictor
     Quem proximis dixit poeta versibus
Illum adeo artificem patriae situs ipse, magistro
     Aptissimus, vix edocente fecerat.
Hanc laudem invidit vicinae exile Bovinum,
     Et rura doctum pingere Henricum dedit
Sed quantum cedit Dionato exile Bovinum

            Ioachime, tantum cedit Henricus tibi.

Translation of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

To Herri met de Bles of Bouviges, painter. 
The Eburonian city¹ had produced the painter of Dinant,  the painter of whom the poet spoke in recent verses.  The most favourable site of his homeland had made him entirely an artist, and a master hardly taught him.  Tiny Bouviges was jealous of this its neighbour’s glory and produced Hendrik, learned in painting fields.  But, Joachim,  as much as tiny Bouviges yields to Dinant [in size], so much does Hendrik yield to you.

Hollstein 1994 no.96

 Karel Van Mander’s biography of Henri met de Bles
 Grove Art Online biography

View the 1572 print
View both prints side by side

1. Julius Caesar describes the “Eburones” as a Belgian people in the region “extending from Liège to Aix-la-Chapelle” (Lewis & Short).  I cannot say which city the author considers the “urbs Eburonia”.  Presumably Dinant itself.