26. Abraham Blomaert
Was born at a place called Gorcum, in Holland, in the year. 1564. His Father Cornelius Blomaert was a very good Carver and Architect, and having in his house the Designs of several great Masters, particularly of Francis Floris, his son fell to imitating them especially the designs of Floris, making a discovery, by his own observation alone, of the rare secrets of the Art, so that he may be said to have formed himself an Artist. Among the many rare productions of his Pencil, that curious Piece at Ʋtrecht is very remarkable, of Apollo and Diana killing the children of Niobe with their Darts, which the Emperor Rodolphus was so charmed with, that he would not be satisfied till he got him to make another of the same sort. The Count de Lippe had a Banquet of the Gods very ingeniously designed by him, in which the Faces of Venus, Juno and Pallas are most incompara∣ble. That Piece of his must not be forgotten, wherein he has Painted to the life all sorts of Shell-fish and Sea-Monsters, with Tritons riding in Triumph in the midst of tempestuous Billows; and at a great distance Andromeda chained to a rock, and Per∣seus in the Air, hastning to her Deliverance: Nothing can be more pleasant than his Landskips, of which, with other of his Designs, there are several curious Prints to be seen, graven by the hands of Muller, Saenredan and others.