Attributed to Frans Francken II, The young man

Attributed to FRANS FRANCKEN II "The Young Man" (Antwerp, 1581 - 1642).
"Abraham and the three angels".
Oil on copper.
Measurements: 71 x 88 cm; 84.5 x 102 cm (frame).
This work represents the episode known as the appearance of Mambré, narrated in chapter 18 of Genesis (1-5). In it, Yahweh and two angels (figures later interpreted as a prefiguration of the Trinity) appear to Abraham in the oak grove of Mamre, in human form. The patriarch welcomes these guests into his house and feeds them, and during the meal one of his guests tells him that his wife Sarah will have a son a year later. It is precisely this moment that the painter captures: the angel on the left appears speaking directly to Abraham, and the latter listens to him attentively, as indicated by the position of his hands, typical of baroque scenographic gestures. As for its formal characteristics, this work combines a magnificent treatment of the figures, monumental and emphatic, with a landscape environment and a treatment of the food and objects typical of still life painting. Thus, on the table we can clearly see the different foods, the metal and glazed ceramic plates that contain them, a spice rack typical of the period and a delicate glass cup. In front of the table, in the foreground, there are two vessels also worked with descriptive zeal and rigorous naturalism, one of glazed ceramic and the other of metal, showing models typical of baroque silverware and ceramics.
The work is inscribed within the Flemish Baroque, in addition by its characteristics is attributed to Frans Francken II. The most fruitful of his family of painters, he trained with his father, Frans Francken I, and in 1605 he joined the Painters Guild of St. Luke in Antwerp, thus beginning a career that would last until 1640, in which he specialized in cabinet painting. His contribution to this genre was of great importance, influencing artists such as Teniers. His style is based on that of Jan Brueghel de Velours, although it also shows strong influences of his father and his uncle, Hieronimus Francken. In his early works, debts to Mannerism and 16th century painting can be appreciated, both in the structure of the compositions and in the rhythm and expression of his figures. They also include evident references to the work of Italian artists such as Raphael, Veronese and Zuccaro. Likewise, the use of prints by Dürer and Lucas de Leyden for some of his figures has been demonstrated. In addition to cabinet painting, Francken painted mythological and biblical themes, some altarpieces and, in collaboration with other artists, painted the figures in landscapes or interior scenes of Tobias Verhaecht, Joos de Momper II, Pieter Neefs or Paul Vredeman de Vries, among others. He is currently represented in the most important art galleries in the world, such as the Prado Museum, the Louvre, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, the Kunshistorisches Museum in Vienna, the Hermitage in St. Petersburg and the Royal Collection in London, among many others.