Contains disturbing content
Traditional Still Lifes
Vanitas
Hendrick Andriessen
This 17th-century Flemish still life uses masterful chiaroscuro to contemplate mortality through a composition of symbolic objects.
Allegory of the Vanity of Life
Nicolaes van Verendael, Hendrick Andriessen
1650 · Oil Paint, Canvas
A dramatic 17th-century Dutch Vanitas still life contemplating mortality through a striking contrast of delicate blooms and a weathered skull.
$129
For the selected configuration
From $129
6 frame sizes
Frame size
Frame color
Mount
Paper type
Glaze
Made to order in ~2 business days · Free U.S. standard shipping (typically 5–8 business days after dispatch)
Where it works
A weightier piece with steady character with crisp neutral depth — supports a polished room with depth.
- Often works in
- Library · Study · Office
- Placement
- Strongest where a vertical wall can take more presence
- Walls
- Best where a lighter wall gives it room to show
- Color notes
- Charcoal black, Rich brown
About the piece
Attributed to Nicolaes van Verendael and Hendrick Andriessen, this mid-17th-century masterpiece is a quintessential example of the Vanitas genre. The composition meticulously balances the macabre presence of a human skull with the fragile beauty of blooming flowers and the symbolic remnants of worldly pursuits—books, a pipe, and a dying candle—all set against a profound, shadowy void that emphasizes the transience of life.
More like this
Contains disturbing content
Dark Academia
Allegory of Vanity
Antonio de Pereda
A magnificent 17th-century Spanish Baroque vanitas painting exploring themes of mortality and worldliness through rich symbolism.
Contains nudity
Figure Studies
Allegory of Transience
Erasmus Quellinus II
A masterful Baroque allegory exploring the fleeting nature of life through the juxtaposition of youth and mortality.
Contains disturbing content
Dark Academia
Allegory
Tizianello
A dramatic chiaroscuro allegory of mortality, contrasting youthful strength with the wisdom of age.
Contains disturbing content
Old World Portraits
Portrait of a Man
Unknown Artist
A striking memento mori portrait from the 17th-century Italian school, featuring dramatic chiaroscuro lighting and symbolic imagery.
Contains disturbing content
Dark Academia
Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette
Vincent van Gogh
An iconic and rebellious early work by Vincent van Gogh featuring a skeleton with a lit cigarette.
Contains disturbing content
Traditional Still Lifes
Vanitas Still Life with Bouquet and Skull
Adriaen van Utrecht
This dramatic 17th-century vanitas painting masterfully juxtaposes the fleeting beauty of fresh flowers with the enduring presence of a human skull.
