Artwork
Vanitas Still Life with a Candlestick, Musical Instruments, Dutch Books, a Writing Set, an Astrological and a Terrestial Globe and an Hourglass, All on a Draped Table
Vanitas Still Life with a Candlestick, Musical Instruments, Dutch Books, a Writing Set, an Astrological and a Terrestial Globe and an Hourglass, All on a Draped Table is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Evert Collier. It dates from 1662 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work titled Vanitas Still Life with a Candlestick, Musical Instruments, Dutch Books, a Writing Set, an Astrological and a Terrestial Globe and an Hourglass, All on a Draped Table (1662, oil on canvas) presents a candlestick, musical instrument, books, quill, inkwell, compass, celestial and terrestrial globes, hourglass, table and tablecloth, vase. These items function as conventional vanitas symbols: the candle and hourglass stress the passage of time, the globes suggest the scope of worldly and cosmic knowledge, while the books, quill and writing set reference learning that can be fleeting. Together they convey a moral meditation on mortality and the transience of material and intellectual pursuits, aligning with the painting’s classification as a vanitas still life.
History & Provenance
Currently held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, the painting's documented ownership history includes Fielding Lewis Marshall.
Created by Evert Collier in 1662, this oil-on-canvas vanitas still life measures 98 cm in height and 129.7 cm in width. The work was executed during the Dutch Golden Age, depicting a draped table laden with symbolic objects such as globes, musical instruments, and an hourglass to reflect on the transience of life. Currently held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, the painting's documented ownership history includes Fielding Lewis Marshall.
The specific date of inception is recorded as January 1, 1662, establishing the precise moment of its completion within Collier's career as a still-life specialist.
Evert Collier's 1662 vanitas painting, 'Vanitas Still Life with a Candlestick, Musical Instruments, Dutch Books, a Writing Set, an Astrological and a Terrestial Globe and an Hourglass, All on a Draped Table,' is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The work, executed in oil on canvas, measures 98 cm in height and 129.7 cm in width. According to available records, the piece is owned by Fielding Lewis Marshall.
While the source material confirms the artwork's current location within the Art Institute of Chicago and its physical dimensions, it does not provide a specific inventory or accession number, nor does it list any details regarding the painting's exhibition history.
Overview
Evert Collier's 1662 oil painting, "Vanitas Still Life with a Candlestick, Musical Instruments, Dutch Books, a Writing Set, an Astrological and a Terrestial Globe and an Hourglass, All on a Draped Table," exemplifies the Dutch Golden Age tradition of still-life art. This work is a detailed vanitas composition, presenting a collection of objects arranged on a draped surface. It reflects the period's interest in symbolic representations of life's transience and the pursuit of knowledge. The painting is part of the collection at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Technique & Style
Collier's skill in rendering textures and light is evident in this still life. The artist employs chiaroscuro, using strong contrasts between light and shadow to create a sense of depth and three-dimensionality, making objects appear tangible. The worn books, tattered cloth, and melted wax are depicted with meticulous detail, contributing to a realistic effect.
The dominant palette of dark browns and golds is punctuated by subtle highlights, such as the red wax, enhancing the visual drama.
Context
Evert Collier was a notable practitioner of still-life painting during the Dutch Golden Age, a period when this genre flourished. His work often explored vanitas themes and incorporated trompe-l'œil elements, designed to deceive the eye with their realism. This particular painting reflects the era's broader cultural fascination with collecting and displaying objects, while simultaneously offering a moralizing commentary on the transient nature of existence and the vanity of worldly pursuits.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Evert Collier (26 January 1642 – few days before 8 September 1708) was a Dutch Golden Age still-life painter known for vanitas and trompe-l'œil paintings.
