The true effigies of the most eminent painters, and other famous artists that have flourished in Europe. Curiously engraven on copper-plates. Together with an account of the time when they lived, the most remarkable passages of their lives, and most considerable works. Very useful for all such gentlemen as are lovers of art and ingenuity.

Plates in present work are after paintings and drawings by various artists (e.g. van Dyck). Many engraved by Galle, Wenceslas Hollar, Pieter de Jode II and Joannes Meyssens. Smaller numbers engraved by Pieter de Bailliu, Frederik Bouttats, Philibert Bouttats, Cornelis van Caukercken, Joseph Antoine Cochet, Richard Collin, Antony van der Does, Coenrad Lauwers, Pieter van Lisebetten, Arnold Loemans, Jacobus Neeffs, Paulus Pontius, Gilles Rucholle, Carel van Savoy, Robert Smith, Hendrik Snyers, Franciscus van der Steen, Alexander Voet, Lucas Vorsterman II, Coenrad Waumans.Plates numbered 1-22 are signed by Théodore Galle, who copied them from ports. by Jan Wierix and Hieronymus Cock that appeared in Dominicus Lampsonius' Pictorum aliquot celebrium Germaniae inferioris effigies (Antwerp, 1572). Galle isued them under title: Illustrium quos Belgium habuit pictorum effigies (Antwerp, s.n.). Plates 1-22 still show Lampsonius' laudatory Latin epigrams at foot, and some show Wierix' initials I.H.W. See Bibliotheca Belgica III, p. 666.Second unnumbered plate is unsigned engraved allegory of Rome, which appeared previously in Het gulden cabinet. Third unnumbered plate is port. of Nicolaus Bruyant. It appeared in Image de divers hommes but not in Het gulden cabinet. Fourth unnumbered plate is port. of Adriaen Brouwer engraved by Robert Smith.First unnumbered plate is engraved title from Joannes Meyssens' Image de divers hommes d'esprit sublime (Antwerp, 1649), which comprised plates numbered 23-121 in present work. Meyssens' plates were re-used by Cornelis de Bie to illustrate his Gulden cabinet van de edel vry schilder const (Antwerp, 1661-2). See Bibliotheca Belgica I, p. 248.Place from Wing.Text by Sebastiano Resta. See Wing.Wing (2nd ed.)Mode of access: Internet.Binding: marbled paper, back and corners in calfskin. Title in gilt on spine. E.K. Waterhouse's signature, dated 1 Oct. '32 at Cambridge.Getty copy lacks plates 23, 45, 54