“Lambertus pictor” in the Saint Denis church accounts of 1533: new developments

The State archives in Liège preserve some of the 16th century “fabrique“ accounts of the Saint Denis collegiate church of Liège. Among them, accounts of the year 1533 drew the attention of Jean Yernaux in his 1958 study about Lambert Lombard. Indeed he found what he thought to be the proof of the Liège Renaissance Master’s intervention in the painting of the Saint Denis Altarpiece panels, before giving up the attribution in 1970. Since then, these two mentions have been used to illustrate either the involvement of Lombard or of another painter named “Lambert” in the painting of the panels. But looking closer at the original document, it is obvious that Yernaux committed huge mistakes in the transcript of these mentions. Not only was he wrong about the sums paid to the artist but also about the work mentioned in this account. In order to understand this document fully and correctly, it is therefore essential to propose a transcription from which new interpretations can be generated. This new understanding can then lead to further contextualization of the mentions. These accounts need to be looked at in close relationship with the rest of the document. This would shed new light on the writer’s habits, especially when it comes to designate individuals. The amount of money given to the painter Lambert also needs to be assessed. Comparisons to other payments of the same period conserved in the archives of the Saint Denis church and of other churches in or around Liège are going to be unveiled and investigated. This will give interesting clues to understand better the extent of the work done by the artist as well as his social status.