


About Lambert Sustris
Dutch · 1515–1584 · Mannerism
a Dutchman absorbed so completely into Venice that he worked in Titian's studio and was known as Alberto de Olanda
Read full biography →Lambert Sustris's works are held in 16 museums worldwide, including Rijksmuseum, Louvre, and Hermitage Museum.
🇦🇹 Austria
1 museum
Also in AustriaKunsthistorisches Museum (3)
🇫🇷 France
3 museums
Also in FranceLouvre (4)Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille (2)Musée des Beaux-Arts et d'Archéologie de Besançon (1)
🇩🇪 Germany
2 museums
Also in GermanyHessen Kassel Heritage (1)Wallraf–Richartz Museum (1)
🇮🇹 Italy
2 museums
-
1 works
Musei di Strada Nuova
Genoa, Italy
Also in ItalyPinacoteca di Brera (1)
🇳🇱 Netherlands
2 museums
Also in NetherlandsRijksmuseum (6)Centraal Museum (1)
🇷🇺 Russia
1 museum
Also in RussiaHermitage Museum (4)
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
3 museums
Also in United KingdomChrist Church Picture Gallery (1)National Gallery (1)Royal Collection (1)
🇺🇸 United States
2 museums
-
1 works
Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, United States
Also in United StatesMetropolitan Museum of Art (1)
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I see Lambert Sustris's work?
Lambert Sustris's artwork can be found in numerous museums and galleries across Europe and North America. In Germany, his works are held at the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Gemaldegalerie; the Kupferstichkabinett in Berlin; the Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum, Kunstmuseum des Landes Niedersachsen in Braunschweig; the Gemaldegalerie Alte Meister, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen in Dresden; the Stadel Museum, Stadelsches Kunstinstitut und Stadtische Galerie in Frankfurt am Main; the Niedersachsisches Landesmuseum in Hanover; and the Staatliche Graphische Sammlung in Munich. Elsewhere in Europe, Sustris's art can be viewed at the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh; the Galleria degli Uffizi in Florence; the Musée du Louvre in Paris; the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemaldegalerie in Vienna; and the Royal Cabinet of Paintings, Mauritshuis in The Hague. In the United Kingdom, his works are held in The British Library, The British Museum, The National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, Tate, UCL Art Collections, University College, the Victoria and Albert Museum, Christ Church (Oxford), and the Ashmolean Museum (Oxford). In North America, Sustris's art can be seen at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York; The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles; the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.; and the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.What should I know about Lambert Sustris's prints?
Lambert Sustris, a Dutch painter active in the mid-16th century, is known for his paintings, but his direct involvement in printmaking is less documented. He trained Frans Floris, who became a noted designer of prints. Prints connected to Sustris are primarily those created after his designs by other printmakers. These prints circulated his artistic ideas more widely. The subjects range from religious scenes to mythological subjects. Although Sustris is not as well-known for his prints as some of his contemporaries, the prints made after his designs contributed to the spread of his artistic style and compositions. These prints offer insight into the artistic trends of the period and the dissemination of artistic ideas through print media.Why are Lambert Sustris's works important today?
Lambert Sustris's importance lies in his contribution to the development of Northern Renaissance art, particularly his influence on subsequent generations of artists. Sustris worked at a time when artists in Northern Europe were increasingly looking to Italian art for inspiration. Lambert Lombard, for example, believed the renewal of northern culture began around 1450 with Martin Schongauer and was furthered by Dürer, who based his art on firm rules. Lombard's interest in proportion and harmony shaped his vision of art. Sustris helped to transmit these Italian ideas northwards. He is known to have worked with pupils who bore his imprint, carrying them into a new era and to regions far beyond the Low Countries. These artists then laid the groundwork for later figures.Who was Lambert Sustris?
Lambert Sustris was a painter from Amsterdam who became integrated into the Venetian art scene, where he was known as Alberto de Olanda. He trained in Venice and worked in Titian's studio, eventually developing his own Mannerist style.What techniques or materials did Lambert Sustris use?
Lambert Sustris's techniques involved both traditional methods and some individual approaches. As a glass painter, he employed established practices, such as using transparent coloured-glass pieces for ground colour. He also used semi-translucent matts (washes smoothed to a muted, even finish) for modelling and muting values, as well as opaque contours for drawing. Developments in glass-painting techniques during the late 15th and early 16th centuries saw artists interpret familiar means in new ways. This included wet stippling, a refining of the wet, matted surface through stippling with a large, soft brush or with a fine sponge or cloth. This allowed for a more even and finely applied matt, more stable and resistant to smudging than a badgered matt. Sustris's broader painting practice involved the use of oil-based sealing layers toned with red and black pigments. The paint structure was often multi-layered, with colours worked from light to dark. Each large area of colour was blocked in using a light tone of the final colour.Who did Lambert Sustris influence?
Lambert Sustris, a Dutch painter active in Italy, absorbed the styles of several artists. Giorgio Vasari claimed Sustris was a student of Titian, though this is debated. He certainly knew Titian's work well. Sustris's influence is most apparent in the work of his son, Friedrich Sustris. Friedrich trained with his father and adopted his mannerisms. Friedrich later moved to Germany, where he worked for the Bavarian court. Other artists who may have been affected by Sustris's style include Andrea Meldolla (also known as Schiavone). Both artists shared an interest in Mannerism and worked in Venice. There are similarities in their approaches to form and composition. Lambert's impact can be seen in the broader Venetian art world of the 16th century, particularly in the adaptation of Mannerist principles to Venetian painting. His legacy is perhaps most visible through his son's artistic output and the continuation of his style in Northern Europe.Who influenced Lambert Sustris?
Lambert Sustris, a Dutch painter active in Italy, absorbed a range of influences. Giorgio Vasari's *Lives of the Artists* mentions Sustris as a student of Titian in Venice; this is a traditional view. Carlo Ridolfi, in *Le maraviglie dell'arte*, also discusses Sustris's time with Titian. However, other influences are apparent in his work. Some scholars suggest that Sustris was also impacted by mannerism. His style shows elements of both Venetian colourism and the more stylised forms associated with central Italian painting. Sustris's exposure to diverse artistic currents shaped his development. He synthesised aspects of Venetian and central Italian styles. He passed this synthesis on to his son, Friedrich Sustris, and his stepson, Hans von Aachen. Both men also became painters.What is Lambert Sustris's most famous work?
Lambert Sustris, also known as Alberto de Olanda, was a painter of Westphalian origin active in Italy. He is not associated with one single famous piece. Instead, he is better known for his influence on other artists, particularly during his time in Venice. Sustris's career can be divided into two main periods: his early work in Venice and his later period in Augsburg. In Venice, he worked in the studio of Titian, where he contributed to several important commissions. His contributions to works by Titian, such as "The Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence" (1548-1559), demonstrate his skill in figure painting and composition. After leaving Venice around 1560, Sustris moved to Augsburg, where he worked for the Fugger family. Here, his style shifted towards a more Mannerist aesthetic, characterised by elongated figures and dramatic compositions. Although he produced numerous paintings and drawings during this period, none achieved widespread recognition as his "most famous work". His legacy rests more on his stylistic influence and the body of work he produced for prominent patrons.
Sources
Where to See guide aggregates verified holdings of Lambert Sustris's works across the following collections.
- [1] museum Musei di Strada Nuova Used for: museum holdings.
- [2] museum Art Institute of Chicago Used for: museum holdings.
- [3] museum Samuel H. Kress Collection Used for: museum holdings.
- [4] book Lassaigne, Jacques, 1910-, Flemish painting Used for: biography.
- [5] book STBGD Trusted, Flemish Painting - From Hieronymus Bosch to Rubens (Art Ebook)_1 Used for: biography.
Editorial overseen by Solis Prints. Sources verified 2026-06-18. Click a source for details, or hover over [N] in the page above to preview.
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