YKENS, Peter

Peter Ykens (Eykens, Ijkens), Flemish painter. He was the son of Johannes Ykens (1613-after 1680), a sculptor and painter and the brother of the flower painter Catharina Ykens II. He was trained by his father. He was admitted in the guild year 1673-74 as a master of the Antwerp Guild of St Luke in the capacity of a son of a master.

He received commissions for altarpieces in Antwerp and Mechelen. He also painted portraits including a portrait of King Charles II of Spain. He further received commissions for the design of tapestries. In 1689 he was elected dean of the Guild of Saint Luke.

He often worked together with other painters who were specialists in particular genres. He painted the staffage for these artists. He provided designs for the tapestry workshops. He collaborated with Pieter Spierinckx on the design for Orpheus Playing the Lyre to Hades and Persephone which was woven around 1685 in the Wauters workshop in Antwerp. He also produced a series of six cartons after prints by Charles Lebrun depicting the Story of Alexander and Darius.