Flowering Tuscany rejoices in the Belgian van der Straet. She envies the Belgians so great an artist, whose works Myron himself and Apelles admire, whom beautiful, learned Bruges brought forth. Continue Reading 107. Johannes Stradanus
This van Winghe often painted living bodies – veins, limbs, joints, everything was remarkable. His Belgian nude, which has been printed, is praised. With her he showed the sad fate of his fatherland. Continue Reading 89. Joos van Winghe
The cities and castles, mountains and low-lying lands, and valleys, fountains, rivers, fields, lakes and humble huts, besides the proud roofs of houses, which he painted – these wonderfully refresh the eyes. Continue Reading 81. Hendrick van Cleef
What faces of people the hand of Key, learned in painting, expressed, so that you could believe you were looking at them! – if however, you except one, Mor, in my opinion the Belgians do not fear to be found wanting because of anyone’s skill. Continue Reading 47. Willem Key
Through all centuries I shall be said to have been the first to have taught by my example the excellent Belgians to be envious of Rome in painting. For he is not worthy of the honour of a true artist, who does not use up a thousand pencils and pigments, and paint pictures in that school. Continue Reading 41. Jan van Scorel
Our muse shall not keep silent about you, among the Belgian artists, Joos, [you who are ] no trivial glory of painting. You would have been as happy in your son’s art as in your own, if only the wretch’s brain had remained healthy. Continue Reading 39. Joos van Cleve
You too, Matthias, knew how to paint fields in such a way, that our age has scarcely produced your equal. Therefore, if you too are considered among the artists whom Belgium honours with immortal praise, not only fraternal piety grants this to you, but also the praise justly due to your skill. Continue Reading 35. Mathys Cock
You were a painter, but, Pieter, you were not only a painter, you who made your Aelst more known to the world by this skill. But there was much skill in addition, born to you by much labour. Its office was to build beautiful houses. Serlio taught this to the Italians, then you, bilingual interpreter of Serlio, taught the Belgians and the French. Continue Reading 31. Pieter Coecke van Aelst
The proper praise of Belgians is to paint fields well; that of Italians to paint men or gods. Nor is it surprising: not without reason is the Italian said to have his brain in his head, [while] the Belgian [has his] in his active hand. Jan’s hand, then, preferred to paint fields well, than for his head to know poorly either men or gods. Continue Reading 29. Jan van Amstel
That the Court of Brussels boasts of its nursling Bernaert, most skilled in painting Attalian garments, is not so much due (if anyone wants to argue while I am judging) to the painter’s skill (although it is also due to his skill) as it is to [the fact] that he was dear to you, Margaret ruler of the Belgians, since nothing is more delightful to you than the art of Apelles. By your gift, he often got golden handles for his paintbrushes, and gold coins, in recently minted currency. Continue Reading 19. Bernaert Van Orley
