Frans Francken the Younger, studio of - THE TRIUMPH OF NEPTUNE AND AMPHITRITE - image-1

Lot 1036 Dα

Frans Francken the Younger, studio of - THE TRIUMPH OF NEPTUNE AND AMPHITRITE

Auction 1010 - overview Cologne
11.05.2013, 11:00 - Old Masters & 19th Century
Estimate: 50.000 € - 70.000 €
Result: 54.900 € (incl. premium)

Frans Francken the Younger, studio of

THE TRIUMPH OF NEPTUNE AND AMPHITRITE

Oil on copper. 54 x 71 cm.

This work is painted by an artist belonging to the workshop of the Antwerp painter Frans Francken. His large workshop worked to satisfy the great demand for the popular characteristic cabinet pictures with small figural staffage; he finished many of the paintings himself. His characteristic glazing technique and style can be seen in the shells, fishes, the dolphin and the sea-horses. In a small cave on the coast gods have gathered for the wedding of Neptune, got of the sea, and Amphitrite, one of the 50 daughters of Nereus. Depictions of the wedding procession were among the most popular themes from the workshop of Francken. A red cloth around the two gods focuses the attention of the viewer to the centre of the composition, working through the large group of monochrome figures, and also referring to the erotic aspect of the scene.
Neptune and Amphitrite were often equated with Antwerp's city patrons, the river god Schelde and the personification of Antwerpia. The iconography became very popular in the catholic city.
Francken's experienced virtuosity and the characteristic tonal painting indicate a date of circa 1635 (cf. the certificate of Dr. U. Härting).

Certificate

U. Härting, 23.3.2013.

Provenance

Private collection, Spain.

Literature

About the artist: U. Härting, Frans Francken der Jüngere. Die Gemälde mit kritischem Oevrekatalog, 1989.