Francken Ii Frans Artwork valuations, appraisals and auction estimates

Frans Francken II (Antwerp, 6 May 1581 – Antwerp, 6 May 1642) was a particularly eclectic Flemish painter and designer, belonging to the South Holland school. An eclectic painter, he painted mythological, historical, religious, allegorical, genre paintings, still lifes of flowers and fruit, portraits, architecture and "studio paintings" (kunstgalerijen). Read the full biography

Frans Francken II (Antwerp, 6 May 1581 – Antwerp, 6 May 1642) was a particularly eclectic Flemish painter and designer, belonging to the South Holland school. An eclectic painter, he painted mythological, historical, religious, allegorical, genre paintings, still lifes of flowers and fruit, portraits, architecture and "studio paintings" (kunstgalerijen). In fact, he specialized in small and medium-sized paintings representing biblical scenes and numerous mythological and historical subjects, created for the creation of personal art galleries and even some of his paintings representing these galleries remain, such as for example in the Cabinet of amateur de Sébastien Leerse, at the Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten in Antwerp, where the author represents Sebastiaan Leerse in his personal art gallery. This last subject, introduced by Francken into Flemish painting, influenced the works of Pieter Paul Rubens, Jan Brueghel the Elder and David Teniers the Younger Francken also introduced another theme into Flemish painting, bearing a moralistic message: the so-called monkey kitchens , allegories in which monkeys present human attitudes. This subject became popular among Flemish painters of the next generation. He painted small paintings with religious subjects, to decorate the drawers and doors of medal and coin collections.