2016.4
A Vanitas Still Life
Artist
Harmen van Steenwyck
(Delft, Netherlands, 1612 - 1656, Leiden, Netherlands)
Title
A Vanitas Still Life
Creation Date
n.d.
Century
mid-17th century
Dimensions
11 7/8 x 15 13/16 in. (30.16 x 40.16 cm)
Object Type
painting
Creation Place
Europe, Netherlands
Medium and Support
oil on panel
Credit Line
Museum Purchase, Laura T. and John H. Halford, Jr. Art Acquisition Fund and Funds Contributed by George and Elaine Keyes
Copyright
Public Domain
Accession Number
2016.4
One of the leading figures in vanitas painting, Harmen van Steenwyck learned to paint under the tutelage of his uncle, artist David Bailly. Van Steenwyck’s earlier works often take up the genre of still life but around the mid-1600s, he began to depict vanitas scenes. Vanitas symbols, also seen in The Doctor’s Surgery, conveyed a Christian message discouraging vanity and urging the viewer to abandon earthly delights to secure salvation. In this painting, musical instruments and a sword and shield allude to the pleasures and power that one can acquire on earth. However, the skull and hourglass serve as reminders of death, the ephemerality of life, and the passing of time. The faint light emanating from the corner, highlighting the skull, suggests a connection between the natural and spiritual worlds, reminding the viewer to consider their salvation when making decisions plans for terrestrial life.
