Frans Ykens, um 1601 Antwerpen – um 1693 Brüssel,... Lot n° 293

Pair of paintings CHRIST'S BIRTH IN A CROWN OF FLOWERS AND FRUITS Oil on canvas. Doubled. 150 x 125 cm. Each in gilded state frames. In the center of the first painting the birth of Christ is depicted in grisaille painting: Mary holding the newborn baby Jesus in her arms, behind her on the right the standing Joseph and, in addition, an ox with its horns is recognizable. The second painting depicts the birth of the baby Jesus in the center in reduced color, with Mary in a blue robe holding the naked baby Jesus with a halo around his head in her lap, and Joseph standing to her right. On the left, the shepherds gathered to adore the child, looking at the newborn full of reverence and attention. The two groups of figures are each rendered in a trompe l'oeil sculptural framing in the manner of a scalloped aedicule, each depicting winged angels on the upper left and right edges. This framing each rendered standing on a stone pedestal against a dark, almost black background. In the first painting, the framing is surrounded by bright yellow-reddish, velvety peaches, light and dark grape panicles, various ears of corn, hazelnuts, medlars and, in the lower area, branches with cherries, strawberries, corn and a melon. In the second painting, the stone-like frame is additionally decorated with a colorful bouquet of flowers in the upper area, several branches with fruits, including raspberries and blackberries, as well as again grape panicles, peaches, corncobs, medlars and above the pedestal a cut melon, lemon and a pomegranate next to reddish plums and dark red cherries. Painting with strong chiaroscuro staging, in which especially the numerous, mostly naturalistically rendered fruits and flowers are particularly emphasized by their colorfulness. Minor retouching, frame damage. (1300778) (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.