The Life of Lambert Lombard (1565); and Effigies of Several Famous Painters from the Low Countries (1572)

The Life of Lambert Lombard by Dominicus Lampsonius (1565) is the earliest published biography of a Netherlandish artist. It provides a theoretical exposition on the nature and ideal practice of Netherlandish art, highlighting Lombard's intellectual curiosity, interest in antiquity, study of the human body, and generosity as a teacher. Together with the Effigies of Several Famous Painters from the Low Countries (1572), it established frameworks for a distinct Netherlandish history of art, celebrating local ingenuity and skill and offering a critical alternative to Giorgio Vasari's Lives of the Artists.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 11 January 2022
Publisher: Getty Trust Publications

Dominicus Lampsonius' The Life of Lambert Lombard (1565) stands as the earliest published biography of a Netherlandish artist. This neo-Latin account delves into the life of the multifaceted individual Lambert Lombard, hailing from Liege, offering a theoretical exploration of the nature and ideal practices of Netherlandish art. It highlights Lombard's intellectual curiosity, fascination with antiquity, meticulous study of the human body, and exemplary generosity as a teacher. This volume presents the first English edition of The Life of Lambert Lombard, accompanied by a new translation of the inscriptions Lampsonius crafted to accompany the Effigies of Several Famous Painters from the Low Countries (1572). This remarkable cycle comprises twenty-three engraved portraits of Netherlandish artists, collaboratively developed with the print publisher Hieronymus Cock. Together, The Life of Lambert Lombard and Effigies established the foundations for a distinctively Netherlandish art history, responding to the growing sense of Netherlandish cultural and political identity on the eve of the Dutch Revolt. These texts presented a critical alternative to Giorgio Vasari's Lives of the Artists and its Italian model of art historical development, celebrating local ingenuity and skill. They remain the cornerstone for any comprehensive account of the northern Renaissance.

Weight: 590g
Dimension: 178 x 348 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781606067406