Vanitas Still Life
1668 | Maria van Oosterwijck
The transitoriness of earthly things is illustrated with symbolic and literary references. A book lying next to the skull and hourglass is inscribed: “calculation – we live unto death and die unto life”, a reference to human life in the balance in the face of death and hope for eternal life. Next to it is a bottle, which reflects the artist’s entire studio including his self-portrait. Maria van Oosterwijck was a student of J. Davidsz. de Heem and worked for well-known rulers throughout Europe.
The transitoriness of earthly things is illustrated with symbolic and literary references. A book lying next to the skull and hourglass is inscribed: “calculation – we live unto death and die unto life”, a reference to human life in the balance in the face of death and hope for eternal life. Next to it is a bottle, which reflects the artist’s entire studio including his self-portrait. Maria van Oosterwijck was a student of J. Davidsz. de Heem and worked for well-known rulers throughout Europe.
Artist:
Maria van Oosterwijck (1630 Nootdorp - 1693 Uitdam) DNB
Time:
1668
Object Name
Painting
Culture
Dutch
Material/technology:
Canvas
Dimensions:
73 cm × 88,5 cm
Framed: 97,2 cm × 112,8 cm × 9 cm
Signed
Inscribed on the edge of the table at lower right: Maria van Oosterwyck. 1668
Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie
Invs.
Gemäldegalerie, 5714
Provenance
1730 documented in the gallery; Coll. Ambras; between 1806-1817 from Ambras to Vienna;