XV. Anthony de Montfort, Bloclant
Was descended of the Illustrious family of the Viscounts of Montfort, in the Province of Ʋtrecht; He learned to paint of Francis Floris whose good Instructions he had no sooner tasted, but he found so many charms in the Work of that great Master, and somuch reputation to follow his steps, that he never ceased imitating him, till he had attained to be a compleat Artist; He bent himself chiefly to work upon the like Noble subjects of History with his Master, after the Italian manner; endeavour∣ing above all to imitate the life, to observe all the Rules of Perspective and foreshortnings, and to place the figures well, and in good order; he had an exact Judgment in the composition and mingling his Colours, so that wanting nothing that might render an Artist accomplished, there is nothing in his Designs but what is great and lofty, with all the Embelishments of Art, the truth of which evidently appears in all his Works, parti∣cularly, A Bathsheba bathing her self: The History of Joseph and his Brethren are very fine: also A Venus which passeth for a Master∣piece, in which, and many others, he comes so near the ele∣gance and artifice of the Italians, that one would think he had been bred up in the School of Florence, when indeed he never was above six months in Italy, and had no other Master, but Floris. He died at Ʋtrecht, Anno Dom. 1583.