Frans Francken Le Jeune, Workshop, Df Monogrammed. The Last Judgment

Frans Francken the Younger (1581; 1642) and workshop, DF monogrammed. The Last Judgment around 1600

Copper mounted on a 97 cm by 65 cm
wooden frame 107 cm by 75 cm frame

This superb painting is a representation of the Last Judgment which can be dated to the beginning of the 17th century. The work is monogrammed at the bottom right with two letters. In Christian tradition, the Last Judgment is described as being the moment when God judges the living and the dead, determining who is admitted to paradise (those who have led a so-called virtuous) and who is condemned to hell (those who have led a so-called immoral life). It is a reminder to believers of the need to live a virtuous life and prepare for the day of judgment. The Last Judgment is an important subject in Christian theology and is often depicted in Christian art, especially in paintings and sculptures. Many painters have represented him, in particular Michelangelo with the fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

Frans Francken the Younger (1581; 1642)

Frans Francken the Younger is part of a family of painters active in Antwerp for five generations in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. He is the fourth and most famous son of Frans Francken, of whom he is a pupil, and of Elisabeth Mertens. His father was a pupil of the greatest Antwerp history painter Frans Floris and one of the most important altarpiece creators of his time in Flanders. Frans, along with his brother Hieronymus Francken II, may additionally have received training in the workshop of their uncle Hieronymus Francken I in Paris. It is difficult to differentiate the contribution of the father from that of the son, because their styles are very similar. He probably worked first in the family workshop before becoming an independent master of the Guild of Saint Luke in Antwerp in 1605, of which he was the dean in 1614. His talent was recognized from an early age. From 1607, he was able to buy a house in the city center where he established his residence and his painting studio, one of the most prosperous in the city. On November 8, 1607, Frans Francken married Elisabeth Plaquet “with the special permission of the bishop”. This may have something to do with their eldest son being born before the end of 1607. His son is given the same name as his father and grandfather. He is known as Frans III and as an artist he would later earn the nickname Rubense Francken (Francken Rubesien). Three more boys and five girls were born to the couple; one of them, Hieronymus, also became a painter and worked in his father's studio. Among his pupils are Daniel Hagens (1616/1617), the monogrammist NF, his brother Hieronymus II and his son Frans III.

His work

Frans Francken the Younger is a versatile artist who is active in many genres and introduces new subjects to Flemish art. His production mainly includes small paintings often dealing with mythological subjects or historical and religious scenes, sometimes copied with a few variations, emphasizing the characters. He invented or popularized several new themes which became popular in Flemish painting, such as genre scenes populated by monkeys (singeries) and Kunstkammer or paintings of cabinets of curiosities. He also produced a series of paintings representing scenes of witchcraft, including representations of sabbaths. He also paints landscapes and still lifes, always produced using a refined technique that is popular with collectors. He also produced some painted altarpieces exhibited in Antwerp. His paintings are held by most major museums in Europe.