Allegory of Vanitas
around 1634 | Antonio de Pereda y Salgado
A winged genius embodies “Vanitas”, the reminder of the transience of all things mortal. Objects are arrayed before him in Baroque profusion as if in a still life, which allude to time rapidly draining away, the futility of power and the fleeting nature of life’s joys. The table surface bears the inscription “nil omne” (all is trivial). It may be assumed from such references to the House of Habsburg as the small portrait of Charles V in the genius’ left hand that the picture was commissioned by the court.
A winged genius embodies “Vanitas”, the reminder of the transience of all things mortal. Objects are arrayed before him in Baroque profusion as if in a still life, which allude to time rapidly draining away, the futility of power and the fleeting nature of life’s joys. The table surface bears the inscription “nil omne” (all is trivial). It may be assumed from such references to the House of Habsburg as the small portrait of Charles V in the genius’ left hand that the picture was commissioned by the court.
Artist:
Antonio de Pereda y Salgado (1611 Valladolid - 1678 Madrid) DNB
Depiction/Person:
Karl I. (V.) (1516-1556), als Karl I. König von Spanien, seit 1519 deutscher König, seit 1520 Kaiser (1500 - 1558) DNB
Time:
around 1634
Object Name
Painting
Culture
Spanish
Material/technology:
Canvas
Dimensions:
oben beschnitten: top cut: 139,5 cm × 174 cm, 36 kg
Framed: 167,6 cm × 205,3 cm × 7,5 cm
Inscribed
Auf dem Tisch neben dem Stundenglas: NIL OMNE, der Genius hält einen Porträtkameo Kaiser Karls V. in der Hand
Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie
Invs.
Gemäldegalerie, 771
Provenance
1647 Coll. A. Enríquez de Cabrera; 1691 Coll. J. G. Enríquez de Cabrera; 1st decade 18th century: Emperor Charles VI (?); 1733 documented in the gallery;