This ‘Vanitas still life’ dates from 1636. It is the only dated and also the largest of a group of five known still lifes that De Poorter produced in the second half of the 1630s. In theme and design, these still lifes hardly deviate from each other; using valuable objects, attributes of war and dilapidated tombstones, each depicts the famous saying from the book of Proverbs: ‘Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.’ Naturally, this symbolised the transience of everything mortal. On this painting, a flag positioned diagonally is, with its orange, white and pale blue strips, the main colour accent on a canvas which for the rest is rather monochromatic. A suit of armour in the foreground is lit together with the flag, and the light that comes in from the left is powerfully reflected.
Specifications
| Title | Vanitas Still Life |
|---|---|
| Material and technique | Oil on panel |
| Object type |
Painting
> Painting
> Two-dimensional object
> Art object
|
| Location | This object is in storage |
| Dimensions |
Width 92,9 cm Height 54,6 cm |
|---|---|
| Artists |
Painter:
Willem de Poorter
|
| Accession number | 1674 (OK) |
| Credits | Purchased 1866 |
| Department | Old Masters |
| Acquisition date | 1866 |
| Creation date | in 1636 |
| Material | |
| Object | |
| Geographical origin | Northern Netherlands > The Netherlands > Western Europe > Europe |
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