, or Franciscus Francken, but more generally called Old Francks, was an artist of the sixteenth
, or Franciscus Francken, but more
generally called Old Francks, was an artist of the sixteenth century. Very few circumstances relative to him
are handed down, although his works are as generally
known in these kingdoms as they are in the Netherlands:
nor are the dates of his birth, death, or age, thoroughly
ascertained; for Dcscamps supposes him to be born in
1544, to be admitted into the society of painters at Antwerp in 1561, which was at seventeen years of age; and
fixes his death in 1666, by which computation Francks
must have been a hundred and twenty-two years old
when he died, which appears utterly improbable; though
others fix his birth in 1544, and his death in 1616, aged
seventy-two, which seems to be nearest the truth. He
painted historical subjects taken froni the Old orNewTestameut, and was remarkable for introducing a great number of figures into his compositions, which he had the skill
to express very distinctly. He had a fruitful invention,
and composed readily; but he wanted grace and elegance
in his figures, and was apt to crowd too many histories into
one scene. His touch was free, and the colouring of his
pictures generally transparent; yet a predominant brown
or yellowish tinge appeared over them, neither natural
nor agreeable. But, in several of his best performances,
the colouring is clear and lively, the design good, the
figures tolerably correct, and the whole together very
pleasing. -At Wilton is his “Belshazzar’s Feast,
” a very
curious composition.