, called likewise P. Van Aelst, from the place of his nativity, a town
, called likewise P. Van Aelst, from
the place of his nativity, a town in Flanders, was, if we
may judge from the writers who have spoken of him, or
from the admirable prints remaining from his designs, one
of the greatest painters which either Germany or Flanders
produced in his age. After he had been some time instructed in the school of Bernard of Brussels, he went to
Rome to complete his studies, and soon proved himself an
excellent designer, and a bold and spirited painter, as
well in fresco as in oil. At his return to his own country
he married, but his wife soon dying, he once more travelled, and at the solicitations of a merchant, a friend of
his, accompanied him to Constantinople in 1531. Having
stayed some time with the Turks, and drawn some most
animated representations of their customs and ceremonies,
which he afterwards cut in wood, he once more arrived in
the place of his nativity, and took a second wife. Towards
the latter part of his life he wrote some excellent treatises
upon geometry, architecture, and perspective. His pictures of history, as well as his portraits, were much esteemed. He was made painter to the emperor Charles V.
and died at Antwerp in 1550. After his death, the prints
which he had made of Turkish costume were published by
his widow. This admirable work consists of seven large
pieces, which, when joined together, form a frieze, divided into compartments by Cariatides on a tablet in the
first block is written in old French “Les moeurs et fachom
de faire de Turcz, avecq les regions y appertenantes, ont
est au vif contrefaicetze par Pierre Cceck d‘Alost, luy
estant en Turque, Tan de Jesu Christ MDXXXIII. lequel
aussy de sa main propre a pourtraict ces figures duysantes
a Pimpression dy’celles;
” and on the last is this inscription: “Marie ver hulst, vefue du diet Pierre d'Alost,
tres passe en Tan MDL. a faict imprimer les diet figures,
soubz grace et privilege dTimperialle majeste en Tan
MCCCCCLIII.
” These prints are very rare.