FRANKEN, FRANCISCUS, commonly called Old Frank, a famous Flemish painter, supposed to have been born about the year 1544; but though his works are well known, very few of the circumstances of his life have been transmitted to posterity. This master painted historical subjects from the Old and New Testaments; and was remarkable for introducing a great number of figures into his compositions, which he had the address to group very distinctly. Vandyck often commended his works, and thought them worthy of a place in any collection.