ADAM'S Country House Collections 15th October 2019

142 Country House Collections 212 FRANS IJKENS (DUTCH 1601 - 1693) The Madonna and Child, seated beneath red drapery inside a stone niche, surrounded by a garland of flowers Oil on panel, 73 x 91cm Signed and dated 1645 Provenance: A renowned 18th/19th century Irish country house collection € 15,000 - 25,000 Frans IJkens (1601-1693) also spelled Ykens, was a Flemish Baroque painter active in Antwerp and Brussels in the mid-17th century. He began his career at the age of 14, becoming an apprentice to his uncle, the still-life painter Osias Beert (1580- 1624). It was during this period that Frans developed his careful treatment of floral depictions. Ijkens was particularly well known for his devotional works and contributions to the genre of “flower garland” paint- ing associated with Antwerp. He became a master of the Guild of Saint Luke (the patron saint of artists) in 1630. In 1635 he married the painter Catarina Ykens-Floquet (the daughter of Lucas Floquet) who continued the tradi- tional depictions of still lifes and flower garland paintings. Ijkens works were immensely popular with aristocrats and collectors of his time, Peter Paul Rubens owning six examples and Eleanor of Austria, Queen of Poland acquir- ing further works from dealers in Antwerp.