Frans Ykens (1601-1693)

• Was a Flemish still life painter.

• Frans Ykens commenced his artistic study at age 14 with his uncle Osias Beert.
• 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 became in 1631 as a master of the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke.

• 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.

• The Figure painters with whom Ykens is known to have collaborated on garland paintings include Jacob Jordaens, Erasmus Quellinus the Younger, Jan van den Hoecke, Pieter de Grebber, Thomas Willeboirts Bosschaert and Pieter van Avont.

• Rubens owned six of his still lifes. 

• In 1665 he moved to Brussels, where he worked until his death.

• Ykens was the teacher of his niece Catarina Ykens II, Osias Beert (II) and Gilliam Dandoy.

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