08/05/2026
In one of Frans Francken’s most iconic images Death plays his violin mocking the protestations of a wealthy old man. The subject of the piece is darkly amusing which is perhaps the reason for its popularity. Instead of remaining dignified and joining death willingly after a long and apparently affluent life, the old man shrinks away from Death and points meekly to his gouty leg propped on a stool as if to beg leave to remain. Teasingly, Death lifts his leg also and props it on an hourglass which has run out of sand... ☠️🎻
Dr. Ursula Härting lists nine autograph versions of this vanitas image, also known as ‘Death and the Merchant’ or ‘Fiddling Death’. While most of these versions are painted on panel, a few notable examples are on copper, such as this picture and a version in the Wellcome Collection with identical dimensions to the present work (inv. 45044i).
FRANS FRANCKEN II
Antwerp 1581 - 1642 Antwerp
Death playing the Violin
Oil on Copper
9.06 x 6.7 inches (23 x 17 cm)
Available for sale
