Background
He was born in Mechelen in a family of artists.
He was born in Mechelen in a family of artists.
Lucas Franchoys the Elder became a master in the Mechelen Guild of Saint Luke in 1599. Between 1613 and 1640 he was deacon of the guild six times. In the years 1602-1604 he was court painter in Paris and Madrid.
In Paris, he worked for Henri, Prince of Condé for whom he painted many portraits.
In 1610 he painted a Pietà for the Saint Bavo Cathedral in Ghent. He died in Mechelen.