Frans Denys

Subsequently, he went to work in Italy as court painter for Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of Parma.

[8] Denys was in the past erroneously identified with the painter of the same name who was active in Ypres around the turn of the 17th century.

[9] Denys was a successful portrait painter who served an elite clientele in his hometown and abroad.

[7] The collection of the palace of Versailles holds the Portrait of François-Paulin de Brouchoven, lord of Vechel who became an alderman of Antwerp.

The portraits represent the subjects invariably in static poses against a sober background.

Only in the hands did Denys introduce some variation by painting them in different twisted positions and spread fingers, although these gestures do not appear to bear any specific meaning.

Recent research has provided strong evidence that the portrait was actually executed in 1648 by Frans Denys.

In the last row on the righthand side, the first man on the left wears a brown suit rather than the black one worn by the others.

Alternatively, this figure possibly represents the gildeknaap (guild servant), who was wearing a different color suit to distinguish him from the surgeons.