The Chirk Cabinet: the Seven Acts of Mercy: to feed the hungry
studio of Frans Francken II (Antwerp 1581 - Antwerp 1642)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1640 - circa 1650
Materials
Oil on copper
Measurements
90 x 265 mm
Order this imageCollection
Chirk Castle, Wrexham
NT 1170769.10
Summary
Oil painting on copper, The Chirk Cabinet: the Seven Acts of Mercy: to feed the hungry, studio of Frans Francken II (Antwerp 1581 - Antwerp 1642), circa 1640-50. One of ten panels on the outward side of the front drop down flap. Two men sit at a green cloth table with loaves of bread beside them. A group enters in from the right with their hands raised in plea. An assistant gathers more loaves from a basket, on the left.
Provenance
Traditionally said to have been given by Charles II to Sir Thomas II Myddelton (1586 - 1666) in 1661 in thanks for his role in the restoration of the monarchy, and thence by descent; purchased by the National Trust from Captain David Myddelton, 1993, with the help of grants of £100,000 from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, of £50,000 from the V&A Purchase Grant Fund and of £35,000 from the Art Fund (then called the National Art Collections Fund).
Credit line
Chirk Castle, The Myddelton Collection (National Trust)
Makers and roles
studio of Frans Francken II (Antwerp 1581 - Antwerp 1642) , artist Flemish School, artist
References
Jervis, 1993: Simon Jervis, Cabinets in Britain, Grosvenor House Antiques Fair Handbook, London, 1993, pp.26-27.