1610-1630 Painting On Copper "adoration Of The Magi", Circle Of Frans Francken Ii
Artist: Entourage / Atelier De Frans Franken Ii , Anvers (1581-1642)
Antwerp School,
around 1610-1630
Workshop or circle of Frans FRANCKEN II, called Frans Francken the Younger (1581-1682)
"The Adoration of the Magi"
Oil on copper, with 17th-century gilded wooden frame
Francken's documented works show exactly this taste for small, densely populated religious scenes, with closely placed figures, Orientalizing costumes, touches of gold, and very fine flesh tones. This way of fitting a true crowd into a tiny space is particularly well suited to the Antwerp cabinet painting style around the artist. Both old and modern sources highlight his preference for these compositions teeming with little figures.
The attribution to Frans Franken's circle is justified by several notable characteristics:
* the aged king wearing an ermine cloak in the foreground;
* the African king placed behind him;
* the Virgin and Child occupying the bright center of the scene;
* the small figures crowded around the sacred group;
* the very colorful fabrics and the golden highlights;
* above all, this almost miniature-like precision, particularly suited to copper.
Copper was precisely a favored medium for Antwerp cabinet painters at the beginning of the 17th century. Francken II made particularly extensive use of it. Several Adorations of the Magi by him or his workshop are known on copper, with a multitude of variants on this theme, replicas of their compositions, sometimes with significant intervention by the workshop.
The scene is divided between the left part with the Magi (note the very particular arrangement of the three Magi, with the king kneeling in the foreground seen almost from behind, the African figure behind him, and on the right the Virgin leaning towards the Child). The only hand of the Magi at the bottom creates a connection between the two parts. The light seems to be focused on the holy family.
The wooden frame, richly carved with flowers, shells, and foliage, and gilded, is indeed from 17th century but later than the copper.
The wooden panel closing the frame on the back is recent and does not allow viewing of the back of the copper plate.
Dimensions:
16 × 12.3 cm (25 × 21.5 cm for the frame).
This is a true cabinet / private devotion format, perfectly in line with the Antwerp tradition of the early 17th century. The copper allowed precisely this kind of extremely fine and precious painting.
However, this size differs from the formats used by Frans FRANCKEN II, which were often larger.
In conclusion, this miniature painted on copper has several elements that remain very evocative of the Antwerp circle of Frans Francken II:
* the accumulation of figures in a limited space;
* the Orientalizing types of the Magi and their retinue;
* the highly modeled flesh tones;
* the sumptuous clothes and metallic highlights;
* the light focused on the Virgin and Child;
* the meticulous execution suited to copper.
around 1610-1630
Workshop or circle of Frans FRANCKEN II, called Frans Francken the Younger (1581-1682)
"The Adoration of the Magi"
Oil on copper, with 17th-century gilded wooden frame
Francken's documented works show exactly this taste for small, densely populated religious scenes, with closely placed figures, Orientalizing costumes, touches of gold, and very fine flesh tones. This way of fitting a true crowd into a tiny space is particularly well suited to the Antwerp cabinet painting style around the artist. Both old and modern sources highlight his preference for these compositions teeming with little figures.
The attribution to Frans Franken's circle is justified by several notable characteristics:
* the aged king wearing an ermine cloak in the foreground;
* the African king placed behind him;
* the Virgin and Child occupying the bright center of the scene;
* the small figures crowded around the sacred group;
* the very colorful fabrics and the golden highlights;
* above all, this almost miniature-like precision, particularly suited to copper.
Copper was precisely a favored medium for Antwerp cabinet painters at the beginning of the 17th century. Francken II made particularly extensive use of it. Several Adorations of the Magi by him or his workshop are known on copper, with a multitude of variants on this theme, replicas of their compositions, sometimes with significant intervention by the workshop.
The scene is divided between the left part with the Magi (note the very particular arrangement of the three Magi, with the king kneeling in the foreground seen almost from behind, the African figure behind him, and on the right the Virgin leaning towards the Child). The only hand of the Magi at the bottom creates a connection between the two parts. The light seems to be focused on the holy family.
The wooden frame, richly carved with flowers, shells, and foliage, and gilded, is indeed from 17th century but later than the copper.
The wooden panel closing the frame on the back is recent and does not allow viewing of the back of the copper plate.
Dimensions:
16 × 12.3 cm (25 × 21.5 cm for the frame).
This is a true cabinet / private devotion format, perfectly in line with the Antwerp tradition of the early 17th century. The copper allowed precisely this kind of extremely fine and precious painting.
However, this size differs from the formats used by Frans FRANCKEN II, which were often larger.
In conclusion, this miniature painted on copper has several elements that remain very evocative of the Antwerp circle of Frans Francken II:
* the accumulation of figures in a limited space;
* the Orientalizing types of the Magi and their retinue;
* the highly modeled flesh tones;
* the sumptuous clothes and metallic highlights;
* the light focused on the Virgin and Child;
* the meticulous execution suited to copper.
2 400 €
Period: 17th century
Style: Renaissance, Louis 13th
Condition: Excellent condition
Width: 12,3 cm (25cm pour le cadre)
Height: 16 cm (21,5cm pour le cadre)
Reference (ID): 1835477
Availability: In stock
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