Vocative

28 items in this category
engraving of Frans Floris

51. Frans Floris

If, Floris you had acquired for yourself as much skill as you had natural ability as a painter (since you preferred to paint many things than to paint a lot, and neither the just delay of the file nor hard work pleased you) – I would cry out ‘yield painters from all lands, whom either our grandfathers or our fathers produced’.  Continue Reading 51. Frans Floris

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engraving of Lucas Gassel

49. Lucas Gassel

Hail, Lucas, once more dear than all the rest, and no less honoured by me than my own father.  Indeed you were the first cause of loving painting offered to me, while you were painting fields and huts with your learned hand.  Equal to your skill are your honesty and candour, and whatever [else] can attract the minds of the good with love.  Therefore may the fame of your virtue and skill live forever, old man beloved to me on both counts. Continue Reading 49. Lucas Gassel

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Pieter Bruegel engraving

45. Pieter Bruegel

Who is this new Hieronymus Bosch for the world, versed in imitating the master’s ingenious dreams with such great skill of paintbrush and pen – so that sometimes he surpasses even him.  Pieter, [you are] blessed in your spirit, as you are blessed in your skill, for in your own and your old master’s comic type of painting, full of wit, you deserve glorious rewards of praise, everywhere and from everyone, no less than those of any artist. Continue Reading 45. Pieter Bruegel

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Henri Met De Bles engraving

37. Henri Met de Bles

The Eburonian city 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. Continue Reading 37. Henri Met de Bles

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Mathys Cock engraving

35. Mathys Cock

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

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Pieter Coecke van Aelst engraving

31. Pieter Coecke van Aelst

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

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Quentin Matsys engraving

23. Quentin Matsys

Before I used to be a Cyclopean smith, but when a wooing painter began to love on an equal footing with me, and the cautious girl objected to me that she liked the heavy thundering of hammers less than the silent paintbrush, love made me a painter.  A tiny hammer, which is the sure note of my paintings, alludes to this.  Thus, when Venus had asked Vulcan for arms for her son, you, greatest of poets, made a painter out of a smith. Continue Reading 23. Quentin Matsys

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