Frans Francken II

Essay:

Frans Francken was known for his pictures of church interiors, biblical, historical and proverbial subjects as well as genre compositions. He was, in addition, the first artist to paint accurate views of old picture galleries. He was a pupil of his father, Frans Francken the Elder, and he is the best known and most prolific of a large family of painters. He became a master of the Guild of St Luke in Antwerp in 1605 and subsequently deacon in 1616. He married Maria Placquet in 1607. Of their surviving children three became painters in their own right: Frans III, Hieronymus and Ambrosius. He is not known to have left Antwerp his entire life.

Francken is known to have painted figures for artists like Bartholomeus van Bassen, and to have collaborated with other painters such as Abraham Govaerts, Hendrik van Steenwyck the Younger, Alexander Keirincx, Josse de Momper and Pieter Neefs the Elder.

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The present painting is the only known treatment of this subject by Frans Francken. It is possible that Francken was inspired by Rubens to depict the famous Philistine heroine and the Hebrew warrior whose strength came from his untamed hair. Rubens' own painting of the subject c.1610 (National Gallery, London, inv. no. NG6461) was represented by Francken in his Banquet at the House of Burgomaster Rockox 1630-1635 (Alte Pinakothek, Munich, inv. no. 858) so he was clearly aware of Rubens' great work.

Never a mere copyist, Francken has veered away from Rubens' peaceful scene with a sleepy Samson to show instead a violent struggle. Now shorn of his hair Samson is set upon by the Philistines. One of the soldiers lunges over Samson with shears raised (perhaps to gouge out his eyes as the Bible relates) while Delilah easily holds down one of his weakened arms. In the background soldiers march over the hills ready for war.

A note on the provenance:
According to the catalogue of the collection of the Marques de Salamanca this artwork came from the Palace of Altamira, Madrid and was owned by Diego Felipe de Guzmán, Marques de Leganés (1582 - 1655). This was a fabulous collection of 1333 works of art with a particular emphasis on Flemish paintings. The Marques was passionate about Flemish art and commissioned a full-length portrait by van Dyck thought to have been painted while the Marques was living in Brussels.

Provenance:

(Possibly) Collection of Diego Felipe de Guzmán, Marques de Leganés (1582 - 1655), Palace of Altamira, Madrid;
Collection of José de Salamanca y Mayol, Marques de Salamanca (1811 - 1883), Vista Alegre, Madrid;
Collection of Mrs Hippolyte Roblot (1828 - 1900), Paris;
Private Collection, France.

Literature:

Catalogo de la Galeria de Cuadros de la Posesion de Vista-Alegre, de propiedad del Excmo. Sr. Marques de Salamanca, 1865(?), p. 116, no. 483, (as 'Juan Bautista Frank').