FRANS IJKENS (DUTCH 1601 - 1693)The Madonna and Child, seated beneath red drapery inside a stone niche, surrounded by a garland of flowersOil on panel, 73 x 91cmSigned and dated 1645 Provenance: A renowned 18/19th century Irish country house collection, now mostly dispersed. Frans IJkens (1601-1693) also spelled Ykens, was a Flemish Baroque painter active in Antwerp and Brussels in the mid-17th century.He began his career at the age of 14, becoming an apprentice to his uncle, the still-life painter Osias Beert (1580-1624).It was during this period that Frans developed his careful treatment of floral depictions. Ijkens was particularly well known for his devotional works and contributions to the genre of flower garland painting associated with Antwerp.He became a master of the Guild of Saint Luke (the patron saint of artists) in 1630. In 1635 he married the painter Catarina Ykens-Floquet (the daughter of Lucas Floquet) who continued the traditional depictions of still lifes and flower garland paintings.Ijkens works were immensely popular with aristocrats and collectors of his time, Peter Paul Rubens owning six examples and Eleanor of Austria, Queen of Poland acquiring further works from dealers in Antwerp.