Engraving
Attributed to Hendrick Hondius
Copy in reverse direction to Cock 1572 engraved Pictorum
19.2 x 11.8 cm

Transcription of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

THEODORO HARLEMIO PICTORI
Huc et ades, Theodore, tuam quoque Belgica semper
Laude nihil ficta tollet ad astra manum,
Ipsa tuis rerum genitrice expressa figuris
Te Natura sibi dum timet arte parem

Translation of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

To Dirck Bouts, painter 
You are here too, Theodore.  Belgium shall always also raise your hand to the stars with no false praise, while Nature, expressed by your figures, fears you, equal to her in the art of begetting things. ¹

Hollstein 1994 no. 84

• Karel Van Mander’s biography of Dirck Bouts
• Grove Art Online biography

View the 1572 print
View both prints side by side

1. I am taking “rerum genetrice” as qualifying “arte” in the next line.  This is awkward, but I cannot see a better solution.