81. Hendrick van Cleef

Hendrick van Cleef etching

Etching and engraving
Signed ‘Hh exc.’ by Hendrick Hondius, attributed to Simon Frisius
19.5 x 12.2 cm

Transcription of Inscription:
HENRICUS CLIVENSIS, ANTVERP. PICTOR 
Urbes atque Arces, Montes, Terrásque jacenteis1,
   Et Valles, Fontes, Flumina, Rura, Lacus,
Atque Casas humiles, tum tecta superba domorum
   Quae pinxit, recreant mirificé haec oculos. 

Translation of Inscription:
Hendrick van Cleef of Antwerp. Painter
The cities and castles, mountains and low-lying lands, and valleys, fountains, rivers, fields, lakes and humble huts, besides the proud roofs2 of houses, which he painted – these wonderfully refresh the eyes.3

Orenstein 1996, Frisius no. 141; Hollstein 2008 no.161
 Karel Van Mander’s biography of Hendrick van Cleef 
 Grove Art Online biography

 

Footnotes:

  1. Sic.
  2. “tecta superba”. The expression is from Ovid, Amores 1.6.52.
  3. “recreant … oculos”.  Cf. the text for 97. Arnold Mytens, “recreant animos”; and 133. Joos de Momper, “recreantes lumina”.