The generosity of Scipio (Livius XXVI, 50, Petrarca, Africa, IV, 375–388), signed and dated lower left: Douffranck fe+eT. IN. Ao1634, oil on panel, 53 x 78 cm, framed

Provenance:
art dealership G. de Salvatore, Dijon (1961);
private collection, Berne (1978);
Drouot auction, Paris, 07.12.1981, lot 26;
Galerie Robert Noortman, Maastricht (1982);
north German private collection.

Literature:
Weltkunst, vol. 52, no. 15, 1982, p. 2037;
U. Härting, Frans Francken der Jüngere, Die Gemälde, mit kritischem Oeuvrekatalog, Freren, 1989, p. 66, p. 77, colour plate 13, p. 155, p. 333f., cat. raisonné no. 323.

In her Francken monograph, Ursula Härting wrote in 1989 on the subject of this painting, “Pink, green, brown, ochre – these are the basic tonal values of this dated version. There is still evidence of transparent glazes, such as to the right of centre on the sleeve, where green is layered over ochre, or the pink, white and grey of the undergarment of the mother...” (U. Härting, op. cit., p. 334). In respect of the composition of this picture, she writes, “In the composition, the Generosity of Scipio, Frans II departs slightly from the design, making the camps of the respective parties more conspicuous. The composition is divided following the diagonals, with the general to the top returning the untouched Celtiberin to her betrothed, Allucius. He kneels, surrounded by parents and retinue, to the lower right of the picture. The wide gap between both groups, which traces the diagonal, underpins the atmospheric scene with its depiction of homage, tense expectation and the generous gesture of the more powerful man ...”