Joseph Van Aken (circa 1699 - 1749), A Young Bandit At The Market

Joseph van Aken
Anglo-Flemish painter
Antwerp probably 1699 – 1749 London
A lady and her maid buying vegetables, a young thief attempting to steal her watch
Oil on canvas : 63,5 X 76,2 cm
Unsigned
Antique carved frame : 82,5 X 95,2 cm

Joseph van Aken moved at a young age from Antwerp to London, where he would develop over thirty years a successful career as a painter of genre scenes and of conversation pieces: these were colourful, small-scale, informal group portraits. He also became the most important drapery painter of the early Georgian period: he painted the attitudes and costumes of figures for many important portrait painters.

All my paintings stand fully documented on my website:
https://www.jeanmoust.com/artists/portraits-genre-and-exterior-scenes/aken-joseph-van/item-1453934