Jan Frans van Son

Jan Frans van Son or Frans van Son (Baptized on 16 August 1658, Antwerp – 1701, London) was a Flemish still life painter. The son of the prominent Antwerp still life painter Joris van Son, he trained with another prominent still life artist Jan Pauwel Gillemans the Elder. He left for England at a young age and had a successful career in London. He painted flower pieces, fruit still lifes and banquet still lifes.

Life Jan Frans van Son was baptised on 16 August 1658 as the son of the painter Joris van Son and Cornelia van Heulem. His father died before Jan Frans reached the age of nine. As a result, Jan Frans trained with the still life artist Jan Pauwel Gillemans the Elder. He travelled to England at a young age, possibly just after Gillemans' death in Antwerp on 12 August 1675.

He married Elizabeth Harler on 6 May 1684 in the St Marylebone Parish Church in London. The couple had at least five children: Elizabeth born on 25 March 1685, Francis born on 18 October 1686, Bridget born on 17 October 1688, Jermin born on 9 April 1691 and John born on 12 December 1693. Most of their children did young: Elizabeth was buried on 12 March 1687, Francis as well as Jermyn on 29 August 1691, and Bridget on 8 December 1700.

The artist is recorded as living in St Martin in the Fields, New Street Ward, Long Acre North in 1693–94. He may have lived at this location before and after that period.

It was believed earlier that he died after 1704 on the basis of this date appearing on a work attributed to him in the Palais des Beaux-Arts of Lille. On stylistic grounds it is no longer believed he painted that painting.

When Weyerman moved to London, van Son had recently died.