Henri met de Bles (The 1572 Pictorum)

Henri met de bles engraving

Engraving
Attributed to Johannes Wierix, 1572. 

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.

Footnotes:

  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.