Vanitas Still Life

Jacques de Gheyn II

Created:
Movement:
1603
Baroque
key Notes:
Memento Mori, Transience of Life
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Dimensions:
32 1/2 x 21 1/4 in. (82.6 x 54 cm)
medium:
Oil on wood
story of the work:

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Vanitas Still Life by Jacques de Gheyn II

Vanitas Still Life, created in 1603 by Jacques de Gheyn II, is an exemplary work of the Dutch Golden Age, executed in oil on wood. This painting is a quintessential representation of the vanitas genre, which reflects on the transience of life and the futility of earthly possessions. De Gheyn's meticulous attention to detail and use of symbolism, such as skulls and extinguished candles, underscore the moralistic themes prevalent in 17th-century Dutch art. The artist, born in Antwerp in 1565, was a prominent figure in the transition from Mannerism to the more naturalistic style of the Baroque period. De Gheyn's work not only contributed to the development of still life as a significant genre but also influenced contemporaries and future generations of artists. His paintings are noted for their technical precision and philosophical depth, making them valuable cultural artifacts of their time.

Description of the work:

Vanitas Still Life by Jacques de Gheyn II

Created in 1603, "Vanitas Still Life" by Jacques de Gheyn II is an oil on wood painting that exemplifies the Dutch Golden Age's fascination with the transience of life through symbolic objects such as skulls, extinguished candles, and hourglasses. The artwork is noted for its meticulous detail and serves as a moral reminder of the inevitability of death and the futility of earthly pursuits.

Artwork Photograph Source:
Metropolitan Museum of Art

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Vanitas Still Life