The Wedding at Cana - Frans Francken II (1581–1642)

Oil on wood panel, attributed to Frans Francken, depicting The Wedding at Cana, set in a large wooden frame. The composition is distinguished by a profusion of figures, a wealth of detail, and the polychromatic style characteristic of 17th-century Flemish painting.

At the center of the scene stands Christ, with a halo, dressed in a red robe and a crimson cloak. According to the account in the Gospel of St. John, Jesus, his mother, and his disciples are invited to a wedding in Cana when the wine runs out.
Christ then asks the servants to fill several jars with water; the water is then miraculously turned into wine.
On the left, several servants are busy around the well and the jars. In the center, Christ, raising his right hand, performs the miracle. Around two tables arranged at an angle, the guests take their seats, including the bride and groom, some of whom are dressed in particularly sumptuous attire.
Three figures on the right side of the composition attract particular attention: a scholar seen from behind, wearing a cloak richly embroidered with gold and featuring a wide white collar; a young blonde woman in a bright red dress; and, beside her, an elderly man wearing a long cloak, a wide fur collar, and an imposing red headdress. The precise rendering of his face suggests that this might be a self-portrait of the artist.

In the upper part of the room, a painting resting on a pedestal richly laden with food depicts The Fall of Adam and Eve. This depiction serves as a moral allusion to sin and the human condition, providing a counterpoint to the wedding scene. The work as a whole thus offers a rich composition, blending a biblical scene, anecdotal details, careful observation of costumes, and symbolic references.

A very similar work is housed at the Simeonstift Museum in Trier.
Condition: minor flaking of the paint.
Dimensions of the artwork: 40 by 54.5 cm
Dimensions with frame: 56 by 71 cm

Frans Francken II, born in Antwerp in 1581 and died in 1642, belonged to an important dynasty of Flemish painters. He is particularly known for his exuberant compositions filled with numerous figures and his religious scenes characterized by a meticulous accumulation of details.

Reference 893

Ref: LOLP903Z9H