Engraving
Signed 'Hh ex.' by Hendrick Hondius
Copy in same direction as Cock 1572 engraved Pictorum
20.7 x 12.0 cm

Transcription of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

HUBERTO AB EYCK, IOANNIS FRATRI, PICTORI.
Quas modo communes cum fratre, Huberte, merenti
Attribuit laudes nostra Thalia tibi,
Si non sufficient : addatur et illa tua quod
Discipulus frater te superavit ope.
Hoc vestrum docet illud opus Gandense Philippum
Quod Regem tanto cepit amore sui :
Eius ut ad patrios mittendum exemplar Iberos
+Coxennii fieri iusserit ille manu.

+Michael Coxennius Mechlin:
in insignis hac aetate pictor

Translation of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

To Hubert van Eyck, brother of Jan, painter.

Hubert, if the praises which our Thalia¹ 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 ability² That work of yours in Ghent³ 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.

Note (referring to Coxennius) – Michael Coxennius of Mechelen, a famous painter of that age.

Hollstein 1994 no. 82

Karel Van Mander's biography of Hubert van Eyck
Grove Art Online biography

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Engraving
Signed 'Hh ex.' by Hendrick Hondius
Copy in reverse direction to Cock 1572 engraved Pictorum
20.7 x 11.9 cm

Transcription of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

IOANNES AB EYCK, PICTOR.
Ille ego, qui laetos oleo de semine lini
Expresso docui princeps miscere colores,
Huberto cum fratre novum stupuere repertum,
Atque ipsi ignotum quondam fortassis Apelli,
Florentes opibus Brugae mox nostra per omnem
Diffundi late probitas non abnuit orbem.

Translation of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

Jan van Eyck, painter
I am he who ⁵ first taught to mix joyful colours from the pressed oily seed of flax, ⁶ 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 ⁷ did not refuse to be spread widely through the whole world.

Hollstein 1994 no. 83

Karel Van Mander's biography of Jan van Eyck
Grove Art Online biography

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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. ⁸

Hollstein 1994 no. 84

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

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Engraving, second state.
Signed 'Hh ex.' by Hendrick Hondius
Copy in reverse direction as Cock 1572 engraved Pictorum
19.8 x 12.0 cm

Transcription of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

HIERONIMO BOSCHIO PICTORI.
Quid sibi vult, Hironyme Boschi,                    
Ille oculus tuus attonitus? quid                        
Pallor in ore?  velut lemures si
Spectra Erebi volitantia coram
Aspiceres?  Tibi Ditis avari
Crediderim patuisse recessus
Tartareasque domos tua quando
Quicquid habet sinus imus Averni
Tam potuit bene pingere dextra.

Translation of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

To Hieronymus Bosch, painter. 
What is meant by that astonished eye of yours, Hieronymus Bosch, or that pallor in your face?  As if you had seen ghosts, the spectres of Erebus, flittering in front of you.  I could believe that the caves of greedy Pluto and the houses of Tartarus lay open to you, seeing as your hand could paint so well whatever the lowest hollows of Avernus ⁹ contain.

Hollstein 1994 no. 85

Karel Van Mander's biography of Hieronymus Bosch.
Grove Art Online biography.

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Engraving
Attributed to Hendrick Hondius
Copy in same direction as Cock 1572 engraved Pictorum

21.0 x 12.1 cm

Transcription of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

ROGERO BRUXELLENSI PICTORI.
Non tibi sit laudi, quod multa, et pulchra, Rogere,
     Pinxisti ut poterant tempora ferre tua, 
Digna tamen, nostro quicunque est tempore Pictor
     Ad quae, si sapiat, respicere usque velit :
Testes picturae, quae Bruxellense tribunal
     De recto Themidis cedere calle vetant : 
Quam tua de partis pingendo extrema voluntas
     Perpetua est inopum quod medicina fami.
Illa reliquisti terris iam proxima morti ;
     Haec monumenta polo non moritura micant.

Translation of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

To Rogier van der Weyden, painter. 
May your praise not be that you painted many beautiful things, as your age could bear them ¹⁰ (although they are worthy that anyone who is a painter in our time wish greatly to look at them, if he be wise – the paintings which forbid the tribunal of Brussels to leave the straight path of Justice are witness [to this]): but rather that your last will is a perpetual remedy for the hunger of the poor from the proceeds of your painting.  The former, [itself] already near to death, you left on earth; the latter shines in the sky, as a monument that will not die.¹¹

Hollstein 1994 no. 86
Karel Van Mander's biography of Rogier van der Weyden
Grove Art Online biography

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Engraving, second state
Signed 'Hh ex.' by Hendrick Hondius
Copy in reverse direction to Cock 1572 engraved Pictorum

20.1 x 12.0 cm

Transcription of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

DE BERNARDO BRUXELLENSI. PICTORE.
Aulica quod sese Bernardo iactet alumno
Bruxella, Attalicas doctissima pingere vestes : 
Non tam pictoris, si quis me iudice certet,
Arti debetur, quanquam debetur et arti
Quam tibi quod carus Belgarum Margari rectrix
Dum tibi Appellea nihil est iucundius arte,
Aurea peniculis te dante manubria, et aureos

Saepe tulit, cusum paulo ante numisma, Philippos

Translation of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

About Bernaert van Orley, painter. 
That the Court of Brussels boasts of its nursling Bernaert, most skilled¹² in painting Attalian¹³ garments, is not so much due (if anyone wants to argue while I am judging¹⁴) 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.

Hollstein 1994 no. 87

Karel Van Mander's biography of Bernaert van Orley
Grove Art Online biography

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Engraving
Signed 'Hh ex.' by Hendrick Hondius
Copy in reverse direction to Cock 1572 engraved Pictorum
19.1 x 12.3 cm

Transcription of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

IOACHIMO DIONATENSI PICTORI.
Has inter omnes nulla quod vivacius 
     Ioachime, imago cernitur
Expressa, quam vultus tui ; non hinc modo
     Factus est, quod illam Curtii 
In aera dextra incidit, alteram sibi 
     Quae non timet nunc aemulam :
Sed quod tuam Dureres admirans manum
     Dum rura pingis, et casas
Olim exaravit in palimpsesto tuos 
     Vultus ahena cuspide.
Quas aemulatus lineas se Curtius,
     Nedum praeivit ceteros.

Translation of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

To Joachim Patenir, painter. 
That, amongst all of these, no image expressed with more liveliness than your face is to be seen, Joachim, has happened not only because Curtius'¹⁵ hand cut it into the bronze ([the hand] which does not now fear another rival), but [also] because Dürer, admiring your hand, when you painted fields and huts,¹⁶ once drew your face on a palimpsest¹⁷ with his bronze point.  Imitating those lines, Curtius surpassed himself, not to mention all the others.

Hollstein 1994 no. 88

Karel Van Mander's biography of Joachim Patinir
Grove Art Online biography

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Signed 'Hh ex.' by Hendrick Hondius
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20.4 x 12.0 cm

Transcription of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

QUINTINUS MESIUS. ANVER:PIANUS PICTOR.
Ante faber fueram Cyclopeus ; ast ubi mecum
     Ex aequo pictor coepit amars¹⁸ procus :
Seque graves tuditum tonitrus postferre silenti
     Peniculo obiecit cauta puella mihi : 
Pictorem me fecit amor.  tudes innuit illud
     Exiguus, tabulis quae nota certa meis,
Sic ubi Vulcanum nato Venus arma rogarat 
     Pictorem e fabro summe Poeta facis.

Translation of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

To Quentin Matsys, painter of Antwerp.
Before I used to be a Cyclopean smith,¹⁹ but when a wooing painter began to love²⁰ 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.²¹

Hollstein 1994 no.89

Karel Van Mander's biography of Quentin Matsys
Grove Art Online biography

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Engraving
Signed 'Hh exc.' by Hendrick Hondius
20.5 x 12.4 cm

Transcription of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

CORNELIUS ENGELBERT. LEIDAN. PICTOR.
Hic inter primos oleo de semine lini 
     Expresso in Batavis pingere qui didicit.
Miramur Vultus quos pinxit, Chromata laeta.
     Pictorum hunc Lucas flos colit artificem.

Translation of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

Cornelis Engelbrechtsz. Painter of Leyden.
This man was among the first of the Dutch who learnt to paint with pressed oily seed of flax.²²  We wonder at the faces [and] joyful colours which he painted.  Lucas, the flower of painters, frequented this artist.

Hollstein 1994 no.90

Karel Van Mander's biography of Cornelius Engebrechtsz
Grove Art Online biography

Engraving, second state
Signed 'Hh ex.' by Hendrick Hondius
Copy in reverse direction as Cock 1572 engraved Pictorum
20.9 x 12.2 cm

Transcription of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

IOANII MABUSIO, PICTORI.
Tuque adeo nostris seculum dicêre, Mabusi,
     Versibus ad graphicen erudiisse tuum.
Nam quis ad aspectum pigmenta politius alter
     Florida Apelleis illineret tabulis?
Arte aliis, esto, tua tempora cede secutis ;

Peniculi ductor par tibi, rarus erit.

Translation of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

To Jan Gossaert, painter. 
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’ boards²³ 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.  

Hollstein 1994 no.91

 Karel Van Mander's biography of Jan Gossaert
 Grove Art Online biography

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Engraving
Signed 'Hh ex.' by Hendrick Hondius
Copy in reverse direction as Cock 1572 engraved Pictorum

20.1 x 12.3 cm

Transcription of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

DE JOANNE HOLLANDO, ANVERPIANO PICT :
Propria Belgarum laus est bene pingere rura :
     Ausoniorum, homines pingere, sine²⁴ deos.
Nec mirum in capite Ausonius, sed Belga cerebrum
     Non temere in guava²⁵ fertur habere manu.
Maluit ergo manus Jani bene pingere rura
     Quam caput, aut homines, aut male scire deos.

Translation of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

To Jan van Amstel, painter of Antwerp ²⁶
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.

Hollstein 1994 no.92

 Karel Van Mander's biography of Jan van Amstel
 Grove Art Online biography

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Engraving
Signed 'Hh ex.' by Hendrick Hondius
Copy in same direction as Cock 1572 engraved Pictorum

19.3 x 12.6 cm

Transcription of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

PETRO COECKE. ALOSTANO, PICTORI.
Pictor eras nec eras tantûm, Petre, pictor ; Alostum
     Qui facis hac Orbi notius arte tuum :
Multa sed accessit multo ars tibi parta labore,
     Cuius opus pulchras aedificare domos.
Serlius hanc Italos ; tu, Serli deinde bilinguis
     Interpres, Belgas, Francigenasque doces.


Translation of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

To Pieter Coecke van Aelst, painter. 
You were a painter, but, Pieter, you were not only a painter, you who made your Aelst²⁷ 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.

Hollstein 1994 no.93

 Karel Van Mander's biography of Pieter Coecke van Aelst
 Grove Art Online biography

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

Transcription of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

DE IOANNE MAIO, PICTORE.
Quos homines, quae non Maius loca pinxit, et urbis²⁸
     Visendum late quicquid et Orbis habet ;
Dum terra sequiturque mari te Carole Caesar
     Pingeret ut dextrae fortia facta tuae ;
Quae mox Attalicis fulgerent aurea textis,
     Materiem artifici sed superante manu.
Nec minus ille sua spectacula praebuit arte
     Celso conspicuus vertice grata tibi,
Iussus prolixae detecta volumina barbae
     Ostentare suos pendula ad usque pedes.


Translation of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

About Jan Vermeyen, painter.
What men, what places and what cities²⁹ has Vermeyen not painted? –– and whatever the world, far and wide, has worth seeing -  while he followed you on land and sea, Emperor³⁰ Charles, to paint the mighty deeds of your hand.  These soon shone in gold with Attalian³¹ embroidery, although the artist’s hand was greater than the material.³² 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.

Hollstein 1994 no.94

 Karel Van Mander's biography of Jan Vermeyen
 Grove Art Online biography

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Attributed to Hendrick Hondius
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19.6 x 12.4cm

Transcription of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

MATTHIÆ COCO ANVERPIAN. PICTORI. HIERONYMI FRATRI.  
Tu quoque, Matthia, sic pingere rura sciebas,
     Ut tibi vix dederint tempora nostra parem.
Ergo, quod artifices inter spectaris et ipse,
     Quos immortalis³³ Belgica laude colit ;
Non in te pietas tantem³⁴  fraterna, sed arti
     Efficit et merito laus tribuenda tuae.

Translation of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

To Matthias Cock of Antwerp, painter, brother of Hieronymus.
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 immortal³⁵ praise, not only³⁶ fraternal piety grants this to you, but also the praise justly due to your skill.

Hollstein 1994 no.95

Karel Van Mander's biography of Mathys Cock
Grove Art Online biography

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Engraving, second state
Signed 'Hh ex.' by Hendrick Hondius
Copy in reverse direction to Cock 1572 engraved Pictorum

20.6 x 12.3 cm

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 city³⁷ 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.

Hollstein 1994 no.96

 Karel Van Mander's biography of Henri met de Bles
 Grove Art Online biography

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Signed 'Hh' by Hendrick Hondius
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19.3 x 12.1 cm

Transcription of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

IUSTO CLIVENSI ANVERPIAN PICTORI.
Nostra nec artifices inter te Musa silebit
     Belgas, picturae non leve, Iuste, decus.
Quam propria, nati tam felix arte fuisses ;
     Mansisset sanum si misero cerebrum.


Translation of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

To Joos van Cleve of Antwerp, painter. 
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.

Hollstein 1994 no. 97

 Karel Van Mander's biography of Joos van Cleve
 Grove Art Online biography

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Engraving, second state
Attributed to Hendrick Hondius
Copy in reverse direction to Cock 1572 engraved Pictorum

19.5 x 12.7 cm

Transcription of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

IOANNES SCORELLUS BATAVUS PICTOR.
Primus ego egregios pictura invisere Romam
Exemplo docuisse meo per secula Belgas
Cuncta ferar ; neque enim iusti dignandus honore
Artificis, qui non graphidas, pigmentaque mille
Consumpsit, tabulasque schola depinxit illa³⁸ 


Translation of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

Jan van Scorel, Dutch painter. 
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.³⁹

Hollstein 1994 no.98

 Karel Van Mander's biography of Jan van Scorel
 Grove Art Online biography

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Engraving, second state
Signed 'Hh ex.' by Hendrick Hondius
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20.1 x 11.9 cm

Transcription of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

LAMBERTO LOMBARDO, LEODIENSIS PICTORI. ET ARCHITECTO.
Elogium, ex merito quod te, Lombarde, decebat,
     Non libet hîc paucis texere versiculis :
Continet hoc ea charta (legi si nostra merentur)
     De te quam fecit Λαμψονίοτε γραφίς

Translation of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

To Lambert Lombard of Liège, painter and architect
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 pen⁴⁰ wrote about you.

Hollstein 1994 no. 99

 Karel Van Mander's biography of Lambert Lombard
 Grove Art Online biography

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Engraving, second state
Signed 'Hh' by Hendrick Hondius
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19.2 x 11.7 cm

Transcription of Inscription [Lampsonius]:
PETRO BRVEGEL, PICTORI.
Quis novus hic Hieronymus Orbi
Boschius ? ingeniosa magistri 
Somnia peniculoque, styloque
Tanta imitarier arte peritus.
Ut superet tamen interim et illum ?
Macte animo, Petre, mactus ut arte
Namque tuo, veterisque magistri
Ridiculo, salibusque referto
In graphices genere inclita laudum
Praemia ubique, et ab omnibus ullo
Artifice haud leviora mereris

Translation of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

To Pieter Bruegel, painter. 
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.

Hollstein 1994 no.100

 Karel Van Mander's biography of Pieter Bruegel
 Grove Art Online biography

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Engraving
Signed 'Hh ex.' by Hendrick Hondius
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19.8 x 12.0 cm

Transcription of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

DE GUILIELMO CAIO, BREDANO, PICTORE. 
Quas hominum facies, ut eos te cernere credas
     Expressit Caii pingere docta manus,
(Si tamen excipias unum, me iudice, Morum)
     Culpari Belgae nullius arte timent.

Translation of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

About Willem Key of Breda, painter. 
What faces of people the hand of Key, learned in painting, expressed, so that you could believe you were looking at them!⁴¹ – if however, you except one, Mor,⁴² in my opinion the Belgians do not fear to be found wanting because of anyone’s skill. 

Hollstein 1994 no.101

 Karel Van Mander's biography of William Key
 Grove Art Online biography

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Engraving, second state
Signed 'Hh ex.' by Hendrick Hondius
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20.4 x 12.1 cm

Transcription of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

LUCÆ GASSELO HELMONTANO PICTORI.
Salve omnes, Luca, ante alios carissime quondam
     Nec levius proprio culte parente mihi.
Quippe mihi primus graphices datus auctor amandae
     Dum pingis docta rura, casasque manu.
Par arte⁴³ probitasque tuae, candorque, bonorum
     Et quicquid mentes ducere amore potest.
Ergo fama tuae virtutis, et artis in aevum
     Vivat, utroque mihi nomine amate senex 


Translation of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

To Lucas Gassel of Helmond, painter.
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 huts⁴⁴ with your learned hand.  Equal to your skill⁴⁵ [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.

Hollstein 1994 no.102

 Karel Van Mander's biography of Lucas Gassel
 Grove Art Online biography

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Signed 'Hh ex.' by Hendrick Hondius
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20.5 x 12.5 cm

Transcription of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

FRANCISCO FLORO ANVERPIANO, PICTORI
Si pictor quantum natura, Flore, valebas,
     Tantum adiunxisses artis et ipse tibi,
Dum tibi multa libet potius, quam pingere multum
     Nec mora te limae iusta, laborque iuvat :
Cedite clamarem, pictores, omnibus oris
     Quos vel avi, nostri vel genuêre patres.

Translation of Inscription [Lampsonius]:

To Frans Floris of Antwerp, painter 
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,⁴⁶ and neither the just delay of the file nor hard work⁴⁷ pleased you) – I would cry out ‘yield painters from all lands,⁴⁸ whom either our grandfathers or our fathers produced’. 

Hollstein 1994 no.103

 Karel Van Mander's biography of Frans Floris
 Grove Art Online biography

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