Frans Francken - pictures and paintings

Frans Francken - Paintings

Frans Francken the Younger was a Flemish painter whose father and son bore the same first names as he. In addition to that, they both were also involved in the artistic tradition of the family. Being a contemporary of Jan Brueghel the Elder and Peter Paul Rubens, also his family regarded him as the most talented painter.
Born: in 1581 in Antwerp
Died: in 1642 in Antwerp
Frans Francken presumably gets his education from two of his uncles. From 1610, he runs the Antwerp-based family-owned workplace together with his brothers. It specializes in altarpieces and small-format panel paintings. In fulfillment of his ecclesiastical customers’ orders, Frans Francken produces mainly religious works and devotional depictions. In addition to them, however, there are also small-scaled works dealing with genre depictions and allegorical as well as mythological topics. Inspired by the collector’s passion of the increasingly prosperous Antwerp bourgeoisie, depictions of the so-called “arts halls” and “wonder chambers” emerge. In addition to the real objects existing, these pictures testify to the wealth and opulence of their owner, and are therefore very much in demand.