School of Frans Francken II (Flemish, 1581-1642), Scene from the Old Testament

Oil on oak panel, bears the artist's signature and the date 1627 at lower right, presented in an antique frame.

Panel 20 1/4 x 28 1/4 in.; Frame dimensions 26 1/2 x 35 in.

From the Collection of the late Nina Ayala Mallory

Frans Francken II was a leading Flemish painter of the early 17th century and a central figure in the Francken family workshop in Antwerp. Trained by his father, Frans Francken I, he became an independent master in the Antwerp Guild of St. Luke in 1605 and quickly gained a reputation for his skilled handling of complex narrative scenes. Francken II played an important role in developing several popular genres of the period, including detailed historical and biblical tableaux, allegorical compositions, and the kunstkammer or “cabinet of curiosities” paintings that combined art, science, and collecting culture in a single image.

Highly prolific and in demand, Francken II collaborated with many noted Antwerp artists, often contributing figures to works by landscape and still-life specialists. His paintings are marked by clear storytelling, graceful figures, and fine detail, making them accessible and appealing to a broad audience in his time. He helped shape the transition from late Mannerism to early Baroque in the Southern Netherlands, and his workshop influenced a generation of painters. Today his works are held in major museums across Europe, appreciated for their craftsmanship and their insight into the visual culture of 17th-century Antwerp.

Several paint flakes; evidence of scattered retouch visible under UV light.