Contains disturbing content
Dark Academia
Vanitas
Antonio de Pereda
A haunting and masterful 17th-century Spanish still life capturing the essence of the Vanitas genre.
Portrait of a Lady
Unknown Artist
1615 · Oil Paint, Canvas
A striking 17th-century vanitas portrait of a lady holding a tulip and resting her hand on a memento mori skull.
$129
For the selected configuration
From $129
1 frame size
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Made to order in ~2 business days · Free U.S. standard shipping (typically 5–8 business days after dispatch)
Where it works
A grounded artwork with confident presence with warm, lived-in color — brings a composed sense of weight.
- Often works in
- Library · Study · Living Room
- Placement
- Works well in taller wall spaces with room around it
- Walls
- Best where a lighter wall gives it room to show
- Color notes
- Charcoal black, Rich brown
About the piece
Dating from around 1615, this Southern Netherlandish portrait combines formal elegance with the philosophical depth of the vanitas tradition. The sitter, dressed in a voluminous ruff and an intricately embroidered bodice, is depicted alongside a human skull and a variegated tulip—symbols of the fleeting nature of life and beauty. The dark, atmospheric palette and meticulous detail in the lace and jewelry make this a quintessential piece of Old World artistry.
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