Frans Ykens, um 1601 Antwerpen – um 1693 Brüssel, zugeschrieben

Pair of paintingsCHRIST'S BIRTH IN A Wreath OF FLOWERS AND FRUIT Oil on canvas. Doubled. Each 150 x 125 cm. Each in gilt ostentatious frames. In the center of one painting, the birth of Christ is depicted in grisaille painting: Mary holding the newborn baby Jesus in her arms, Joseph standing behind her on the right, and an ox with its horns can also be seen. In the other painting, the birth of the boy Jesus is depicted in the middle in reduced colors, with Mary in a blue robe holding the naked boy Jesus in her lap with a halo around his head and Joseph standing to her right. On the left are the shepherds gathered to adore the child, gazing at the newborn with reverence and attention. The two groups of figures are each depicted in a trompe l'oeil sculptural frame in the style of a shell aedicula, with winged angels on the upper left and right edges. These frames are each depicted standing on a stone plinth against a dark, almost black background. In the first painting, the framing is surrounded by bright yellow-reddish, velvety-looking peaches, light and dark panicles of grapes, various ears of corn, hazelnuts, medlars and, in the lower area, branches with cherries, strawberries, corn and a melon. In the second painting, the stony-looking frame is additionally decorated with a colorful bouquet of flowers in the upper area, as well as several branches with fruit, including raspberries and blackberries, and again grape panicles, peaches, corn on the cob, medlars and, above the pedestal, a cut melon, lemon and a pomegranate next to reddish plums and dark red cherries. Painting with strong chiaroscuro, in which the numerous, mostly naturalistically depicted fruits and flowers are particularly emphasized by their colourfulness. (1390119) (18) Frans Ykens, ca. 1601 Antwerp - ca. 1693 Brussels, attributed A pair of paintings THE BIRTH OF CHRIST SET IN A WREATH OF FLOWERS AND FRUIT Oil on canvas. Relined. 150 x 125 cm each. (†)