(Antwerp 1515 – 1570)
Market scene, oil on panel, 96 x 162 cm, framed

Provenance: European private collection,

Literature: M. Pfister-Burkhalter (‘Ein Gemälde von Frans Floris’, in Alte und Neue Kunst, 1955, vol. VI, no. 4, p. 4),

The painting was attributed to Frans Floris by Margarete Pfister-Burkhalter (‘Ein Gemälde von Frans Floris’, in Alte und Neue Kunst, 1955, vol. VI, no. 4, p. 4).

The lack of a compositional centre and the fragmentary narrative, which gives more attention to the details than the overall impression, are typical of Italian painting of the 16th century. The complex figural postures, the use of contrapposto and the turning of the bodies were inspired by Tuscan Mannerism following Michelangelo’s lead. This visual language became widespread in Antwerp after 1547 thanks to Frans Floris, when he returned from his journey to Italy. His workshop became a centre for dissemination of Italian models and was visited by many young artists who had not themselves travelled to Italy.

Provenance: European private collection, Literature: M. Pfister-Burkhalter (‘Ein Gemälde von Frans Floris’, in Alte und Neue Kunst, 1955, vol. VI, no. 4, p. 4), The painting was attributed to Frans Floris by Margarete Pfister-Burkhalter (‘Ein Gemä