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22. Francis Floris,
Born at Antwerp. Besides his great Judgment, he was so quick and ready in his designs, that when Philip the 2d of Spaine made his Solemn Entry into Ant∣werp, he in one day Painted a large Victory, Embe∣lished with Tropheys of Armes, and filled with so many other Ornaments, that it was thought to be the work of some months, and the effect of much labor and study; His Pictures had this peculiar Ornament that they were most of them enriched with somthing of Antiquity, suited most ingeniously to his Subject, as may be seen among many others, in his Battle of St. Michael, and Lucifer in the Church of Notredam, at Antwerp, where you see the Devils tumbling headlong from the battle∣ments of heaven, into a deep Abysse of flaming Sulphur, in such a dreadful and horrid manner, as seems rather the work of some in∣fernal Pencil, than of any mortal. At Brussels there is a last Judg∣ment incomparably done. His way of Painting was strong his fleshy colours full of life, and spirit, his Drapery free, yet so artificially composed, as to lessen nothing of the proportion or form of the members. In fine, as he excelled most of his age, he would no doubt have excelled himself, had he not been too much addicted to mispence of his time, in Intemperance and debauchery, wherein he somtimes took a pride to bear away the Bell, he died in the year 1570. or thereabouts, at An∣twerp, in the 50th year of his age.