Allegory of Vanitas
around 1634, Artist: Antonio de Pereda y Salgado
Allegory of Vanitas
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.
Object data
Object Name
Painting
Culture
Spanish
Dated
around 1634
Artist
Antonio de Pereda y Salgado (1611 Valladolid - 1678 Madrid) - GND
Material
Canvas
Dimensions
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
Image rights
Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Gemäldegalerie
Inv. No.
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;
Depiction/Person
Kaiser Karl V. Sohn des Philipp von Habsburg (1500 - 1558) - GND
Permalink (citable Link) to this page: www.khm.at/en/object/1449/
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