FRANCIS, historical and portrait painter, was born at Antwerp in 1571; and the first rudiments of the art were communicated to him by his father, who was but an ordinary artist. However, he visited Rome, and several parts of Italy, and then formed a good taste of design, and a manner exceedingly pleasing. When he returned to his own country his merit procured for him great employment, and still greater reputation, and he was usually distinguished by the name of the Italian painter. His touch was light and spirited, and his colouring warm; and he had the honour of being the first who introduced a good taste of colouring among his countrymen. While his acknowledged merit was rewarded with every public testimony of esteem and applause, unhappily he received an account of the death of his brother, who had been assassinated on a journey; and the intelligence affected him so violently, that it occasioned his own death, to the inexpresible regret of every lover of the art, in 1603.