Frans Badens was born at Antwerp in 1571. He was the son of an obscure artist, by whom he was instructed in the principles of design, but he afterwards had the advantage of visiting Italy, where he remained four years. On his return to the Netherlands he gave ample testimony of the advantages he had derived from his studies. Van Mander speaks of him in very favourable terms as a painter of history and portraits, and says that he excelled in painting what are called 'Conversation Pieces.' His style of design partook of the taste he had acquired in Italy, and, like most of the painters of his country, he was an excellent colourist. His works have now entirely disappeared. It is supposed that he died at Amsterdam, but the year is not recorded.
This article incorporates text from the article "BADENS, Frans" in Bryan's Dictionary of Painters and Engravers by Michael Bryan, edited by Robert Edmund Graves and Sir Walter Armstrong, an 1886–1889 publication now in the public domain.