Stock Photo - Works of mercy. Oil painting by a painter associated with Frans II van Francken. Frans II van Francken was a Flemish painter associated with oil paintings depicting works of mercy. He was active in Europe from 1575 to 1642. The works of mercy were popular subjects for religious paintings in the 16th and 17th centuries. The seven works of mercy, as listed in the bible, were feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, harboring the harborless, visiting the sick, visiting the imprisoned, and burying the dead. Van Francken focused on the physical aspects of the works of mercy, such as feeding and clothing the hungry. His paintings often showed figures who fulfilled the religious obligations of mercy, such as providing beds for the homeless, bringing medicine to the sick, and clothing the naked. Van Francken’s works of mercy paintings were popular with the wealthy aristocrats of Europe. They were particularly loved by Countess Elizabeth of Hesse, who had many of his works in her collection. These works were also highly influential in developing still life painting in Europe. Van Francken’s paintings were seen as a reminder to do charitable works for the poor, which had been emphasized within the Catholic Church since the 12th century. His works were a visual representation of God’s mercy and provided