Josef Frans Nollekens

Josef Frans Nollekens or Joseph Frans Nollekens (1702–1748) was a Flemish painter who was principally active in England where he is often referred to as "Old Nollekens" to distinguish him from his famous son, the sculptor Joseph Nollekens. He painted conversation pieces, galant companies and fêtes champêtres in the style of Watteau, genre scenes as well as portraits. He was also active as a picture restorer.

Life He was born in Antwerp, the son of Jan Baptist Nollekens, a genre and still life painter from Antwerp who had practised for a while in the Dutch Republic and England, and eventually settled in Roanne in France. He started his art studies under his father Jan Baptist while he was living in Roanne. Some older sources claim that he also studied under Antoine Watteau. There is no evidence for such training.

In 1733 he returned to England where he settled. He married Mary Anne Le Sacq or Lesack on 3 May 1733. As they were Catholics, the wedding took place at the Sardinian embassy while their children were baptised at the chapel of the Venetian ambassador: John Joseph in 1735, Joseph in 1737, Maria Joanna Sophia in 1739, James 1741 and Thomas Charles in 1745. There was reportedly a picture by him with portraits of Frederick, Prince of Wales and his sisters at Windsor Castle. He also carried out decorative works at Stowe House for Lord Cobham, and painted pictures for the Marquess of Stafford at Trentham Hall.

Works

He painted principally conversation pieces and galant companies in the style of Watteau, genre scenes as well as portraits. The conversation piece was fashionable in England around 1725 by Philippe Mercier, an imitator of Watteau. It was quickly converted into an English idiom by Bartholomew Dandridge and William Hogarth.

When first in England, Nollekens worked on making copies after Watteau and Giovanni Paolo Panini. His works sometimes include picturesque ruins in the manner of Panini.