141. Adam Elsheimer

Adam Elsheimer etching

Etching
Signed ‘Hh’ by Hendrick Hondius, attributed to Simon Frisius
20.9 x 12.3 cm

Transcription of Inscription:
ADAMUS ELSHEYMER, FRANCOFURTENSIS PICTOR.
Romam urbem primis placuit tibi 1 visere ab annis :
   Pictorum Roma est Artificúmque Schola.
Assiduó pingens lustras dum singula templis ;
   Pictores inter nobile nomen erit. 

Translation of Inscription:
Adam Elsheimer, painter of Frankfurt
It pleased you to visit Rome from your earliest years.  Rome is the school of painters and artists.  You were busy painting while examining every single thing in the churches.2  2 Among painters your name will be noble.

Orenstein 1996, Frisius no. 144; Hollstein 2008 no.164
mentioned in Van Mander’s biography of Hans Rottenhammer
Grove Art Online biography

Footnotes:

  1. sup. lin.
  2. This for “templis”, as is common enough in Renaissance Latin. But of course there are both churches and temples in Rome.