Constantijn Francken or Konstantijn Francken[1][2] (Baptised on 5 April 1661, Antwerp – 1717, Antwerp), was a Flemish Baroque painter and the final painter in the long line of the Francken family of artists. He is mainly known for his battle scenes. He worked for a long time in Paris where he was a court painter to the King and mainly painted portraits.[1][3]
Constantijn Francken
Louis XIV receiving the keys of Strasbourg in 1681
Francken was born in Antwerp as the son of Hieronymous Francken III and Cornelia Daep. He was baptised on 5 April 1661. He was the final artist in the Francken family of artists, which had played an important role in Flemish paintings since the second half of the 16th century and whose large workshop was a standard of quality artistic production in Antwerp. Constantijn's father Hieronymous was the son of Frans Francken the Younger, the most famous scion of the Francken dynasty. There are several attributions of work to Hieronymous but none authenticated.[3] Hieronymous died in 1671 and cannot have played a major role in the artistic training of his son. It is unknown who his teacher was but it is possible that Constantijn was trained in the Francken family workshop.[4]
Battle of Ekeren of 1703
It is believed that at an early age he went to Paris where he may have been active between 1679 and 1694.[4] During his period in Paris he may have produced work for the French king Louis XIV.[3] Evidence of his residence in Paris is a declaration made on 2 May 1699 in Antwerp by the engraver Cornelis Vermeulen and others about Constantijn Francken's successful activities in Paris. Upon his return to Antwerp he declared in a submission to the Antwerp Magistrate dated 10 December 1694 that he had been active for 15 years in Paris, Versailles and other residences of the king of France where he had been painting portraits that gained him an excellent reputation. He further stated that he was ready to establish himself in Antwerp if he were relieved from the obligation to provide city services. He obtained a relief of military service on 24 January 1695.[1]
In the guild year 1694-1695 he joined the Antwerp Guild of St. Luke as a 'wijnmeester', i.e. the son of a master.[4][5]
Maarten van Rossum's departure after his attack on Antwerp on 24 July 1542
In the guild year 1695-1696 he was dean of the guild but was exempted from active duties as a dean by a payment of 300 Guilders and some guns to the guild. He took on Karel van Falens as his pupil in the same year.[5] Van Falens later specialised in hunting and hawking scenes and worked for the king of France.[3]
On 28 April 1696 Francken married Christina Clara who was originally from Boechout. His wife later developed a mental illness and was said to have run away from home naked. His wife's family accused Francken of having caused his wife's illness by squandering her inheritance. The dispute between the two families became quite heated and Constantijn was ordered by penalty of physical punishment to desist from insulting his brother-in-law. It appears that he spent above his means although he was successful as an artist and his works fetched high prices. He sold in 1703 a large painting of the Battle of Ekeren of 1703 (now in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp) to the city of Antwerp for 280 Guilders.[1]
He died debt-laden on 12 January 1717 in Antwerp in a house he was renting in de Lange Nieuwstraat. He was buried on the same day in the St. James' Church.[1]
Workedit
While Francken seems to have worked mainly as a portrait painter during his 15-year residence in France, there are no known portraits by his hand. He is now only known for landscapes depicting military episodes. In addition to the Battle of Ekeren, he painted a canvas showing Maarten van Rossum's departure after his attack on Antwerp on 24 July 1542 (Museum aan de Stroom, Antwerp), The siege of Namur by William III of Orange (unknown location), the Presentation of the keys of Strasbourg to Louis XIV (Musée historique de Strasbourg) and an unlocated bird's eye view of a battle painted in 1702.[4]
He was very skilled at placing the various actors in the military scenes in lively positions.[1]
^ abcdefFrans Jozef Peter Van den Branden, Geschiedenis der Antwerpsche schilderschool, Antwerpen, 1883, p. 978-980 (in Dutch)
^Name variations: Constantinus Francken, Constantyn Francken, Constantin Francken, Constantyn Franc
^ abcdNatasja Peeters, From Nicolaas to Constantijn: the Francken family and their rich artistic heritage, in" K. Brosens, L. Kelchtermans, K. Van der Stighelen (eds.), 'Family Ties Art Production and Kinship Patterns in the Early Modern Low Countries', Brepols, 2012, pp. 112-113
^ abPh. Rombouts and Th. van Lerius, De Liggeren en andere Historische Archieven der Antwerpsche Sint Lucasgilde, onder Zinkspreuk: "Wy Jonsten Versaemt" afgeschreven en bemerkt door Ph. Rombouts en Th. Van Lerius, Advokaet, onder de bescherming van den raed van bestuer der koninklyke Akademie van beeldende Kunsten, van gezegde Stad, Volume 2, Antwerp, 1872, pp. 573, 583, 590 (in Dutch)
External linksedit
Media related to Constantijn Francken at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
constantijn, francken, konstantijn, francken, baptised, april, 1661, antwerp, 1717, antwerp, flemish, baroque, painter, final, painter, long, line, francken, family, artists, mainly, known, battle, scenes, worked, long, time, paris, where, court, painter, king. Constantijn Francken or Konstantijn Francken 1 2 Baptised on 5 April 1661 Antwerp 1717 Antwerp was a Flemish Baroque painter and the final painter in the long line of the Francken family of artists He is mainly known for his battle scenes He worked for a long time in Paris where he was a court painter to the King and mainly painted portraits 1 3 Constantijn FranckenLouis XIV receiving the keys of Strasbourg in 1681BornApril 5 1661Antwerp BelgiumDiedJanuary 12 1717 1717 01 12 aged 55 Antwerp BelgiumBurial placeSt James Church AntwerpNationalityFlemingOther namesKonstantijn FranckenOccupationPainterSpouseChristina Clara m 1696 ParentHieronymus Francken III father FamilyFrans Francken the Younger grandfather Contents 1 Life 2 Work 3 Family tree 4 References 5 External linksLife editFrancken was born in Antwerp as the son of Hieronymous Francken III and Cornelia Daep He was baptised on 5 April 1661 He was the final artist in the Francken family of artists which had played an important role in Flemish paintings since the second half of the 16th century and whose large workshop was a standard of quality artistic production in Antwerp Constantijn s father Hieronymous was the son of Frans Francken the Younger the most famous scion of the Francken dynasty There are several attributions of work to Hieronymous but none authenticated 3 Hieronymous died in 1671 and cannot have played a major role in the artistic training of his son It is unknown who his teacher was but it is possible that Constantijn was trained in the Francken family workshop 4 nbsp Battle of Ekeren of 1703 It is believed that at an early age he went to Paris where he may have been active between 1679 and 1694 4 During his period in Paris he may have produced work for the French king Louis XIV 3 Evidence of his residence in Paris is a declaration made on 2 May 1699 in Antwerp by the engraver Cornelis Vermeulen and others about Constantijn Francken s successful activities in Paris Upon his return to Antwerp he declared in a submission to the Antwerp Magistrate dated 10 December 1694 that he had been active for 15 years in Paris Versailles and other residences of the king of France where he had been painting portraits that gained him an excellent reputation He further stated that he was ready to establish himself in Antwerp if he were relieved from the obligation to provide city services He obtained a relief of military service on 24 January 1695 1 In the guild year 1694 1695 he joined the Antwerp Guild of St Luke as a wijnmeester i e the son of a master 4 5 nbsp Maarten van Rossum s departure after his attack on Antwerp on 24 July 1542 In the guild year 1695 1696 he was dean of the guild but was exempted from active duties as a dean by a payment of 300 Guilders and some guns to the guild He took on Karel van Falens as his pupil in the same year 5 Van Falens later specialised in hunting and hawking scenes and worked for the king of France 3 On 28 April 1696 Francken married Christina Clara who was originally from Boechout His wife later developed a mental illness and was said to have run away from home naked His wife s family accused Francken of having caused his wife s illness by squandering her inheritance The dispute between the two families became quite heated and Constantijn was ordered by penalty of physical punishment to desist from insulting his brother in law It appears that he spent above his means although he was successful as an artist and his works fetched high prices He sold in 1703 a large painting of the Battle of Ekeren of 1703 now in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp to the city of Antwerp for 280 Guilders 1 He died debt laden on 12 January 1717 in Antwerp in a house he was renting in de Lange Nieuwstraat He was buried on the same day in the St James Church 1 Work editWhile Francken seems to have worked mainly as a portrait painter during his 15 year residence in France there are no known portraits by his hand He is now only known for landscapes depicting military episodes In addition to the Battle of Ekeren he painted a canvas showing Maarten van Rossum s departure after his attack on Antwerp on 24 July 1542 Museum aan de Stroom Antwerp The siege of Namur by William III of Orange unknown location the Presentation of the keys of Strasbourg to Louis XIV Musee historique de Strasbourg and an unlocated bird s eye view of a battle painted in 1702 4 He was very skilled at placing the various actors in the military scenes in lively positions 1 Family tree editvteFrancken family tree This section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed April 2015 Learn how and when to remove this message Nicolaes Francken1515 1596 Hieronymus Francken I1540 1610Frans Francken I 1542 1616Ambrosius Francken I1544 1618 Cornelius Francken Isabella FranckenThomas Francken1574 1625Hieronymus Francken II1578 1623Frans Francken II 1581 1642Ambrosius Francken II1590 1632Hans Francken1581 after 1610 Frans Francken III 1607 1667Hieronymus Francken III1611 after 1661Ambrosius Francken III1614 1662 Constantijn Francken1661 1717References edit a b c d e f Frans Jozef Peter Van den Branden Geschiedenis der Antwerpsche schilderschool Antwerpen 1883 p 978 980 in Dutch Name variations Constantinus Francken Constantyn Francken Constantin Francken Constantyn Franc a b c d Natasja Peeters From Nicolaas to Constantijn the Francken family and their rich artistic heritage in K Brosens L Kelchtermans K Van der Stighelen eds Family Ties Art Production and Kinship Patterns in the Early Modern Low Countries Brepols 2012 pp 112 113 a b c d Constantijn Francken at the Netherlands Institute for Art History a b Ph Rombouts and Th van Lerius De Liggeren en andere Historische Archieven der Antwerpsche Sint Lucasgilde onder Zinkspreuk Wy Jonsten Versaemt afgeschreven en bemerkt door Ph Rombouts en Th Van Lerius Advokaet onder de bescherming van den raed van bestuer der koninklyke Akademie van beeldende Kunsten van gezegde Stad Volume 2 Antwerp 1872 pp 573 583 590 in Dutch External links edit nbsp Media related to Constantijn Francken at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Constantijn Francken amp oldid 1215337193, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
