Vanitas
Outline:
- Brief Introduction and Quickfacts
- Detailed Description
- Artists and Paintings
- More Examples – defined visual appearance
- Tools for digitial artists, prompters and word smiths
Overview and quickfacts
Vanitas is a style of painting that emerged in the 16th century, characterized by its focus on the transience of life and the inevitability of death. The style often features symbols of death, such as skulls and bones, as well as other reminders of the brevity of life, such as wilting flowers. Vanitas paintings were often used as moralizing reminders of the need to live a virtuous life.
The art style is also known as: Vanity, emptiness, futility, insignificance
Categories: Impressionism, Modernism
1. Jan van Eyck (1390-1441) 2. Hans Memling (1430-1491) 3. Gerard David (1460-1523) 4. Joachim Patinir (1480-1524) 5. Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1525-1569) 6. Dirck Barendsz (1534-1592) 7. Jan Brueghel the Elder (1568-1625) 8. Frans Hals (1582-1666) 9. Rembrandt (1606-1669) 10. Jan Lievens (1607-1674) 11. Ferdinand Bol (1616-1680) 12. Nicolaes Maes (1634-1693) 13. Caspar Netscher (1639-1684) 14. Willem Kalf (1619-1693) 15. Gabriel Metsu (1629-1667) 16. Jan Steen (1626-1679) 17. Pieter de Hooch (1629-1684) 18. Carel Fabritius (1622-1654) 19. Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) 20. Bartholomeus van der Helst (1613-1670) 21. Adriaen Brouwer (1605-1638) 22. Adriaen van Ostade (1610-1685) 23. Jan van de Cappelle (1626-1679) 24. Salomon van Ruysdael (1602-1670) 25. Allaert van Everdingen (1621-1675) 26. Aelbert Cuyp (1620-1691) 27. Meindert Hobbema (1638-1709) 28. Jacob van Ruisdael (1628/29-1682) 29. Philips Wouwerman (1619-1668) 30. Jan Asselyn (1615-1652)
1. “Vanitas: Skull” by Pieter Claesz (1628) 2. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull and a Writing Quill” by Pieter Claesz (1630) 3. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book and a Candlestick” by Pieter Claesz (1628) 4. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull and a Burning Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1625) 5. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull and a Snuffed Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1631) 6. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, an Hourglass and a Candlestick” by Pieter Claesz (1625) 7. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book and an Hourglass” by Pieter Claesz (1627) 8. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Candlestick and a Book” by Pieter Claesz (1624) 9. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, an Hourglass and a Book” by Pieter Claesz (1628) 10. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1629) 11. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1630) 12. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1631) 13. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1632) 14. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1633) 15. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1634) 16. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1635) 17. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1636) 18. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1637) 19. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1638) 20. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1639) 21. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1640) 22. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1641) 23. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1642) 24. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1643) 25. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1644) 26. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1645) 27. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1646) 28. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1647) 29. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1648) 30. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1649)
Detailed Description
Vanitas paintings are a type of still life that emerged in the 16th century. The word “vanitas” comes from the Latin for “vanity” or “emptiness.” These paintings typically feature objects that symbolize the transience of life, such as skulls, hourglasses, and wilting flowers. The message of vanitas paintings is that life is fleeting and ultimately meaningless. Famous vanitas paintings include “Vanitas” (1614) by Simon Vouet, “Vanitas” (1624) by Pieter Claesz, and “Vanitas” (1628) by Jan Brueghel the Younger. These paintings often incorporate religious symbolism, as the vanitas theme was often used to remind viewers of their mortality and the need to repent for their sins. Vanitas paintings fell out of favor in the 18th century, but the style has been experiencing a resurgence in popularity in recent years. Contemporary artists who have been influenced by vanitas paintings include Damien Hirst and Jeff Koons.
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Artists and Paintings
Known Artists
1. Jan van Eyck (1390-1441) 2. Hans Memling (1430-1491) 3. Gerard David (1460-1523) 4. Joachim Patinir (1480-1524) 5. Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1525-1569) 6. Dirck Barendsz (1534-1592) 7. Jan Brueghel the Elder (1568-1625) 8. Frans Hals (1582-1666) 9. Rembrandt (1606-1669) 10. Jan Lievens (1607-1674) 11. Ferdinand Bol (1616-1680) 12. Nicolaes Maes (1634-1693) 13. Caspar Netscher (1639-1684) 14. Willem Kalf (1619-1693) 15. Gabriel Metsu (1629-1667) 16. Jan Steen (1626-1679) 17. Pieter de Hooch (1629-1684) 18. Carel Fabritius (1622-1654) 19. Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) 20. Bartholomeus van der Helst (1613-1670) 21. Adriaen Brouwer (1605-1638) 22. Adriaen van Ostade (1610-1685) 23. Jan van de Cappelle (1626-1679) 24. Salomon van Ruysdael (1602-1670) 25. Allaert van Everdingen (1621-1675) 26. Aelbert Cuyp (1620-1691) 27. Meindert Hobbema (1638-1709) 28. Jacob van Ruisdael (1628/29-1682) 29. Philips Wouwerman (1619-1668) 30. Jan Asselyn (1615-1652)
Known Paintings / Pictures / Images
1. “Vanitas: Skull” by Pieter Claesz (1628) 2. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull and a Writing Quill” by Pieter Claesz (1630) 3. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book and a Candlestick” by Pieter Claesz (1628) 4. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull and a Burning Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1625) 5. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull and a Snuffed Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1631) 6. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, an Hourglass and a Candlestick” by Pieter Claesz (1625) 7. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book and an Hourglass” by Pieter Claesz (1627) 8. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Candlestick and a Book” by Pieter Claesz (1624) 9. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, an Hourglass and a Book” by Pieter Claesz (1628) 10. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1629) 11. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1630) 12. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1631) 13. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1632) 14. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1633) 15. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1634) 16. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1635) 17. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1636) 18. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1637) 19. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1638) 20. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1639) 21. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1640) 22. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1641) 23. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1642) 24. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1643) 25. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1644) 26. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1645) 27. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1646) 28. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1647) 29. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1648) 30. “Vanitas: Still Life with a Skull, a Book, an Hourglass and a Candle” by Pieter Claesz (1649)
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