Bidspirit auction | Calvary, Frans Francken II (Antwerp,

Calvary, Frans Francken II (Antwerp, 1581-1642), Flemish School of the 17th Century - Oil on board, framed measures: 146 x 101, board measures: 69 x 64 cm. Attribution dossier by Jorge Gutiérrez-García y Martínez de Marañón is attached. (Antwerp, 1581-1642) Flemish painter, born in Antwerp, son of Frans Francken I and nephew of Hieronimus Francken. His work was initially inspired by Jan Brueghel the Elder, although it also has evident influences of his predecessors of the Francken family. The debts of his earliest productions with Mannerism and 16th century painting can be seen in the structure of the compositions, as well as in the rhythm and expression of his figures. His work also makes evident allusions to the work of Italian artists such as Raphael, Veronese and Zuccaro. In a second stage, from 1610 onwards, his palette became clearer, while the themes and interpretations, tirelessly repeated through several replicas, provided him with an immense and easily recognizable pictorial corpus. This is the time of the inclusion of figures, especially stereotypical women who will be repeated throughout his work. In a third moment, from 1620 onwards, typical male figures wearing turbans or Phrygian hats begin to appear, while his compositions denote a profoundly eclectic character. The general luminosity now reaches its zenith, determining the chromatic scheme of the work, partly influenced by the general harmonization that occurred at the same time in history painting in the Flemish school. Reference bibliography: Díaz Padrón, Matías, Catálogo de pinturas. Flemish school of the seventeenth century, Madrid, Museo del Prado, Patronato Nacional de Museos, 1975, t. i, p. 136.