Artwork
Allegory on the Christ child as the lamb of God
Allegory on the Christ child as the lamb of God is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Frans Francken the Younger. It dates from 1616 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The presence of additional male and female figures suggests a broader narrative context typical of Antwerp religious art from this period.
Created in 1616 by Frans Francken the Younger, this copper painting functions as a religious allegory centered on the Christ child identified as the Lamb of God. The composition depicts Jesus alongside the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist, integrating human figures with the symbolic lamb to visualize theological concepts regarding sacrifice and divinity.
The presence of additional male and female figures suggests a broader narrative context typical of Antwerp religious art from this period. By combining the infant Christ with the iconography of the lamb, the work explicitly represents the doctrine of Jesus as the sacrificial offering for humanity's sins, a central theme in Christian theology.
Technique & Style
The work is executed on a thin copper plate, a support commonly used in Antwerp in the early 17th century, and applied with oil paint, as indicated by the recorded medium and material.
The composition functions as a religious allegory, presenting the Christ child identified as the Lamb of God amidst symbolic figures such as Mary, John the Baptist, a woman and a man, reflecting Counter‑Reformation iconography; the small dimensions (43 × 34 cm) and the careful modeling of forms are typical of Frans Francken the Younger’s style.
History & Provenance
Allegory on the Christ child as the lamb of God was executed by Frans Francken the Younger in 1616 on copper panel. The work was created in Antwerp and belonged to the Kabinet van Heteren Gevers collection, initially owned by Adriaan Leonard van Heteren Gevers. It entered the Rijksmuseum as part of that collection and remains on display there.
The painting forms part of the artist’s allegorical religious series, reflecting Counter‑Reformation themes. Its dimensions measure 43 cm by 34 cm, confirming its modest scale for a cabinet piece.
The painting is held by the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, where it entered the collection as part of the Kabinet van Heteren Gevers. It is inventoried under object number SK-C-1044.
It was included in the 2017–2018 exhibition "Class Distinctions: Dutch Painting in the Age of Rembrandt and Vermeer" held at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.
Overview
Frans Francken the Younger's 1616 painting, Allegory on the Christ child as the lamb of God, is executed on copper. This work exemplifies the Flemish Baroque tradition through its symbolic religious narrative. Francken, a prolific member of his artistic family, was known for both altarpieces and smaller allegorical compositions, often engaging in collaborations. The painting is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection.
Context
Frans Francken the Younger was a prominent figure within the Francken family of artists, distinguishing himself as the most prolific. His oeuvre frequently included altarpieces and smaller allegorical pieces like this one. He was known for integrating symbolic religious themes into his works and often collaborated with other specialized painters, a common practice in Flemish workshops of the era.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Frans Francken the Younger (1581, Antwerp – 6 May 1642, Antwerp) was a Flemish painter and the best-known and most prolific member of the large Francken family of artists.
