Frans Ykens

Frans Ykens (Antwerp, 1601 - Brussels, 1693) was a Flemish still life painter active in Antwerp and Brussels in the 17th century. He is mainly known for his flower pieces and fruit still lifes and also painted banquet pieces, pronkstillevens and larger game pieces.

Frans Ykens commenced his artistic study at age 14 with his uncle Osias Beert, one of the earliest painters to specialize in still lifes. According to his own statement of 1641, he had traveled 12 years earlier (i.e. in 1629) to the Provence where he stayed, amongst others, in Aix-en-Provence and Marseille.

Ykens was enrolled in 1631 as a master of the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke. In 1635 he married the flower painter Catarina Ykens-Floquet, who was the daughter of history painter Lucas Floquet I and the sister of three painters.

Ykens was successful and his works were very popular with collectors of his time. He painted for Archduke Leopold in Brussels. His works were collected by Eleanor of Austria, Queen of Poland who purchased his work through Antwerp art dealers Forchondt. He was also very appreciated by his colleagues as is demonstrated by the fact that Rubens owned six of his still lifes.

His success allowed him to acquire a sumptuous dwelling in central Antwerp. In 1665 he moved to Brussels, where he worked until his death. He must have fallen on hard times in his later years as he had to mortgage his property and his possessions were sold off after he died to pay his debts.

Ykens was the teacher of his niece Catherine Ykens (II), Osias Beert (II) and Gilliam Dandoy, who painted in his decorative style.

Frans Ykens' oeuvre is fairly well established as he signed most of his work. All his dated paintings date to his Antwerp years (from 1635 to 1663). He painted mainly flower pieces, garland paintings and fruit still lifes. In addition, he also created a number of breakfast pieces, pronkstillevens and larger pieces with game and dead fish.

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