Christ in the House of Mary and Martha

Francken is known to have painted the subject in two other compositions: that dated 1614 in the Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts, Brussels (inv. no. 312), painted in collaboration with Abel Grimmer; and that dated by Dr. Ursula Härting to circa 1620, sold in these Rooms, 25 March 1977 (see U. Härting Frans Francken der Jüngere, Freren, 1989, p. 267, nos. 140 and 139 respectively). The present picture is much closer to the latter work, with the figures placed towards the front of the composition; it is interesting to note that both include a painting of The Sacrifice of Isaac in the background, although at various stages of that story.