Frans Francken II: The Art Collector and Death Playing the Violin

The Art Collector

Frans Francken II is considered the father of painted gallery interiors. The picture was presumably created by a hitherto anonymous studio assistant with details by the master himself, in the first or early second decade of the 17th century.

Painted collection cabinets in small format have rarely survived. That two, perhaps three, ideal portraits of scholars could be shown and identified here for the first time in an interior from his studio is the pictorial rarity of this painting. The gentleman seated at the globe is the Antwerp cartographer and geographer Abraham Ortelius (1527–1598). Beside him, pointing at a snail, is the Antwerp-born cabinet miniaturist Joris Hoefnagel (1542–1601). A further portrait may show Conrad Gessner (1516–1565), who in 1561 was the first to publish and illustrate a tulip imported from the Orient — a thesis by Dr. Ursula Harting, supported by the tulip in the bouquet that points to him.

Death Playing the Violin

Death playing the violin as a symbol of vanitas reflects a popular theme of Dutch art in the 17th century. The picture, remarkable for its size — this subject was usually depicted smaller — was examined in the original by Dr. Ursula Harting and identified as an authentic late work by Frans Francken II.

Dr. Harting explains the depicted scene: «Skeletal Death strikes up the last dance for the rich man. He, however, points to his presumably gouty foot, which would prevent him.» In the view into the back room, the Faustian pact with Death can be seen. «It is an amusing punchline that once again testifies to Francken's inventiveness.»

We thank Dr. Ursula Harting for taking the time to examine this fascinating work, which had not been on the market for 50 years.

From the highlight brochures of Auktionshaus Zofingen.