Description:

This early seventeenth century construction site shows us different stages of building. It is a highly unusual painting and was possibly a commission from a guild.

Ambrosius Francken II, also called the younger, to distinguish him from his uncle of the same name, was born at Antwerp in the latter part of the 16th century. He studied under his father, Frans Francken the elder, whose style he imitated. In 1624 he was registered as a master in the Guild of St. Luke at Antwerp, and he is said to have painted some time in Leuven. He died in 1632. Little else is known of him. His brother was Frans Francken the Younger.

Ambrosius Francken painted more grisailles. Sometimes as a painted frame around a biblical subject and sometimes like in this case as an independent painting. In old inventories his name is mentioned often in combination with grisailles. No signed works by him are known.