Dominicus Lampsonius
Encyclopedia
Dominicus Lampsonius of Bruges
and Liège
, was a Flemish
humanist
, poet
, and artist. Through his writings, a great deal is known about engravers
and printers
of the era. Lampsonius himself never saw the Italian paintings about which he wrote and instead relied on prints and other writers, such as Giorgio Vasari
.
Reginald Pole's secretary in England. After 1558, he traveled to Liège
and was secretary to successive Prince-Bishops of that town (Robert of Berghes, Gerard of Groesbeek, and Ernest of Bavaria
). In 1572 Lampsonius published under his own name a series of twenty-three engraved portraits of artists from the Low Countries, which was called Portraits of some Celebrated Artists of the Low Countries
(Pictorum aliquot celebrium Germaniae inferioris effigies). Lampsonius provided poems in Latin
to accompany the individual portraits. This work was previously being prepared by the engraver Hieronymous Cock, who died before it was completed. In 1576, Lampsonius finished his only known extant work of art, a Crucifixion
scene.
He was a correspondent of Giorgio Vasari, who relied upon him for his notes about the life and works of the painter Lambert Lombard
Lampsonius wrote numerous poems and epigrams in Latin and carried out regular correspondence with individuals such as Vasari and Giulio Clovio. Lampsonius also wrote The Life of Lambert Lombard, a biography of the artist Lambert Lombard
(1565). Lampsonius noted that Lambert worked more for love of art than for money, an idea promoted in ancient times by Pliny the Elder
, and promoted by Lampsonius as well.
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
and Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
, was a Flemish
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
humanist
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
, poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, and artist. Through his writings, a great deal is known about engravers
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
and printers
Printer (publisher)
In publishing, printers are both companies providing printing services and individuals who directly operate printing presses. With the invention of the moveable type printing press by Johannes Gutenberg around 1450, printing—and printers—proliferated throughout Europe.Today, printers are found...
of the era. Lampsonius himself never saw the Italian paintings about which he wrote and instead relied on prints and other writers, such as Giorgio Vasari
Giorgio Vasari
Giorgio Vasari was an Italian painter, writer, historian, and architect, who is famous today for his biographies of Italian artists, considered the ideological foundation of art-historical writing.-Biography:...
.
Life and works
Lampsonius served as CardinalCardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
Reginald Pole's secretary in England. After 1558, he traveled to Liège
Bishopric of Liège
The Bishopric of Liège or Prince-Bishopric of Liège was a state of the Holy Roman Empire in the Low Countries in present Belgium. It acquired its status as a prince-bishopric between 980 and 985 when Bishop Notger, who had been the bishop of Liege since 972, acquired the status of Prince-Bishop...
and was secretary to successive Prince-Bishops of that town (Robert of Berghes, Gerard of Groesbeek, and Ernest of Bavaria
Ernest of Bavaria
Ernest of Bavaria was Prince-elector-archbishop of the Archbishopric of Cologne from 1583 to 1612 as successor of the expelled Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg. He was also bishop of Münster, Hildesheim, Freising and Liège....
). In 1572 Lampsonius published under his own name a series of twenty-three engraved portraits of artists from the Low Countries, which was called Portraits of some Celebrated Artists of the Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
(Pictorum aliquot celebrium Germaniae inferioris effigies). Lampsonius provided poems in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
to accompany the individual portraits. This work was previously being prepared by the engraver Hieronymous Cock, who died before it was completed. In 1576, Lampsonius finished his only known extant work of art, a Crucifixion
Crucifixion
Crucifixion is an ancient method of painful execution in which the condemned person is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang until dead...
scene.
He was a correspondent of Giorgio Vasari, who relied upon him for his notes about the life and works of the painter Lambert Lombard
Lambert Lombard
Lambert Lombard was a Renaissance painter, architect and theorist for the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. During his career he worked for Jan Gossaert in Middelburg and trained Frans Floris. In 1532 he became court painter and architect in Liège...
Lampsonius wrote numerous poems and epigrams in Latin and carried out regular correspondence with individuals such as Vasari and Giulio Clovio. Lampsonius also wrote The Life of Lambert Lombard, a biography of the artist Lambert Lombard
Lambert Lombard
Lambert Lombard was a Renaissance painter, architect and theorist for the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. During his career he worked for Jan Gossaert in Middelburg and trained Frans Floris. In 1532 he became court painter and architect in Liège...
(1565). Lampsonius noted that Lambert worked more for love of art than for money, an idea promoted in ancient times by Pliny the Elder
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
, and promoted by Lampsonius as well.