dutch still life
- Dutch still life paintings generally consist of an arrangement of items laid out to look visually appealing.
- Laid out on a flat surface.
- Still lifes traditionally include flowers, fruit, game, storage vessels or kitchen utensils.
- Vanitas still life are completely different and contain objects of symbolic meaning - usually conveying some sort of biblical/christian message.
- Vanitas art was refined by dutch artists during the dutch golden age in the early 17th century.
- Vanitas art was a reaction to the counter reformation to coincide with the new aesthetics of protestant reformation art.
- Vanitas art usually contains symbolism to the inevitability of death.
- Viewers reminded of their mortality.
- 'Vanitas' latin for 'vanity'.
- Typical items used represent different things.
- Gold, jewellery, coins, purses - Wealth and power
- Luxury fabrics, pipes, wine, dice, glasses, playing cards, - Earthly pleasures.
- Books, ink pots, pens, maps, telescopes - Secular knowledge.
- Skull, hourglass, chronometer, watch, burning candle, flowers, fruit - Inevitability of death, passing of time (also memento more theme).
- Peeled lemons represent things that are attractive but may leave a bitter taste.
- Vanities artists include Harmen van Steenwyck, Jan Davidsz de Heem, Willem Kalf, Willem Claesz Heda, Pieter Claesz, Samuel van Hoogstraten.
Still Life with Drinking-Horn - Willem Kalf
Fig.1. Still Life with Drinking-Horn - Willem Kalf. (1653)
- Created in 1653
- Oil on canvas
- 86 x 102 cm
- Now in the National Gallery, London
- Named a Dutch pronkstilleven - 'still-lifes of display or ostentation'.
- Influenced by other Flemish still life.
- Feature luxury items such as silverware, Chinese porcelain, oriental carpets, fragile glass and exotics foods.
- Doesn't seem to have specific symbolic meaning.
- Buffalo horn said to belong to Saint Sebastian Archers' Guild, part of the city's civic guard. Dated 1565 - now in the Historisch Museum in Amsterdam.
- Dark background with powerful hues.
- Dated 1628.
- Oil paint on wood.
- 24.1 x 35.9 cm
- Currently in the Metropolitan Museum of Art - New York.
Still Life with a Skull and a Writing Quill - Pieter Claesz
Fig.2. Still Life with a Skull and a Writing Quill - Pieter Claesz. (1628)
Above is my version of the painting, I used the subject of the original painting but changed the style and colours slightly.
I used acrylic paint, applying a layer of gloss varnish over the top when I had finished.
I used a more abstract style for my version. I used a palette of Burnt sienna, ochre, burnt umber, raw umber, pains grey, white, black, crimson, brilliant red, yellow, sand and terracotta.
I used acrylic paint, applying a layer of gloss varnish over the top when I had finished.
I used a more abstract style for my version. I used a palette of Burnt sienna, ochre, burnt umber, raw umber, pains grey, white, black, crimson, brilliant red, yellow, sand and terracotta.
bibliography
Encyclopedia of art history. (s.d) Vanitas Painting: Still Life. At: http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/definitions/vanitas-painting.htm (Accessed on 23.08.15)
Essential Vermeer. (s.d) Pieter Claesz Still Life with a Skull and a Writing Quill. At: http://www.essentialvermeer.com/dutch-painters/claez.html (Accessed 23.08.15)
National Gallery. (s.d) Willem Kalf Still life with a drinking horn. At: http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/willem-kalf-still-life-with-drinking-horn (Accessed on 23.08.15)
Web gallery of art. (s.d) still-Life with Drinking-Horn. At: http://www.wga.hu/html_m/k/kalf/stilhorn.html (Accessed on 23.08.15)
Essential Vermeer. (s.d) Pieter Claesz Still Life with a Skull and a Writing Quill. At: http://www.essentialvermeer.com/dutch-painters/claez.html (Accessed 23.08.15)
National Gallery. (s.d) Willem Kalf Still life with a drinking horn. At: http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/willem-kalf-still-life-with-drinking-horn (Accessed on 23.08.15)
Web gallery of art. (s.d) still-Life with Drinking-Horn. At: http://www.wga.hu/html_m/k/kalf/stilhorn.html (Accessed on 23.08.15)
images
Fig.1. Still Life with Drinking-Horn - Willem Kalf. (1653) [Painting] At: http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/willem-kalf-still-life-with-drinking-horn (Accessed on 23.08.15)
Fig.2. Still Life with a Skull and a Writing Quill - Pieter Claesz. (1628) [Painting] At: http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/435904 (Accessed on 23.08.15)
Fig.2. Still Life with a Skull and a Writing Quill - Pieter Claesz. (1628) [Painting] At: http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/435904 (Accessed on 23.08.15)