It does not please [me], Lombard, to write here in a few verses an epigraph which would be suitable to your merits. Those pages contain it which (if our works deserve to be read) the Lampsonian pen wrote about you. Continue Reading 43. Lambert Lombard
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
“What men, what places and what cities has Vermeyen not painted? –– and whatever the world, far and wide, has worth seeing – while he followed you on land and sea, Emperor Charles, to paint the mighty deeds of your hand. These soon shone in gold with Attalian embroidery, although the artist’s hand was greater than the material. Nor did he provide a sight less pleasing to you than his art – [he was] remarkable for his high forehead, [and] was ordered to show off the unhidden folds of his rich beard, hanging down to his feet.” Continue Reading 33. Jan Vermeyen
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
You too, indeed, man of Maubeuge, will be said in our verses to have educated your age in drawing. For who else could daub Apelles’ boards with flowering pigments smoother to the eye? Granted, you yield in skill to others who followed your age. [But] rare will be the guider of the brush who is equal to you. Continue Reading 27. Jan Gossaert, called Mabuse
Here is van Dijck, famous for his varied and lively colour, he who painted leaves and fragrant flowers. He also set up lifelike joyous tables without blood. These delights nourish the eyes and the mind. Continue Reading 135. Floris van Dijck
“This man was among the first of the Dutch who learnt to paint with pressed oily seed of flax. We wonder at the faces [and] joyful colours which he painted. Lucas, the flower of painters, frequented this artist.” Continue Reading 25. Cornelius Engebrechtsz
“Hubert, if the praises which our Thalia recently attributed to you along with your deserving brother are not enough, let this [praise] of yours be added, that your brother, as your student, outdid you in ability. That work of yours in Ghent teaches this, which filled Philip with such love of it,4 that he ordered a copy of it to be made by the hand of Coxennius, to be sent to his native Spaniards.” Continue Reading 9. Hubert Van Eyck
“I am he who first taught to mix joyful colours from the pressed oily seed of flax, with my brother Hubert. Bruges, flourishing with wealth, was astounded by this new discovery, perhaps unknown in the past to Apelles himself. Soon afterwards our uprightness did not refuse to be spread widely through the whole world.” Continue Reading 11. Jan Van Eyck
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. Continue Reading 13. Dirck Bouts
