Vanity (vanitas)

Ecclesiastes, “son of David, king of Jerusalem”, wrote in his poetic Book (1:2) “vanity of vanities! All is vanity”.

Eclesiastes, 'filho de David, rei de Jerusalém' escreveu no seu poético Livro (1:2) “Vaidade das vaidades! Tudo é vaidade”.

Pieter Boel (1622-1674)-'vanity-allegory of the vanities of the world'-oil on canvas-1663    Lille-Palais des Beaux-Arts

Adam Bernaert (work period 1660-1669)-'vanitas'-oil on panel-ca 1665    Mount Vernon-Walters Art Museum

Abraham Mignon (1640-1679)-'the Nature as symbol of vanitas'-oil on canvas-(1665-1679)    Darmstadt-Hessisches Landesmuseum

Antonio de Pereda (1611-1678)-'allegory of vanity'-(1632-1636)    Wien-Kunsthistorisches Museum Gemäldegalerie

Pieter Claeszoon (1597-1660) formely attributed to Clara Peeters (fl 1607-1621)-'vanitas still life'-oil on panel-1630    The Hague-Maurithuis

Vanity by Agostino Tassi (Buonamici)

A painter of land and sea sceneries, the Roman Agostino Tassi (Buonamici) (1578-1644) had a turbulent and dissolute character, which led him to kidnap Artemisia Gentileschi in 1612.

Pintor de paisagens terrestres e marítimas, o Romano Agostino Tassi Buonamici (1578-1644) possuía carácter turbulento e dissoluto, o que o levou a raptar Artemisia Gentileschi em 1612.

Agostino Tassi (Buonamici) (1578-1644)-'competition on the Capitoline Hill'-oil on canvas-ca 1630    Roma-Musei Capitolini

Agostino Tassi (Buonamici) (1578-1644)-'the arrival of Cleopatra at Tarsus'-oil on canvas

Agostino Tassi (Buonamici) (1578-1644)-'imaginary landscape with temple of Sibyl at Tivoli'-fresco-ca 1625    Roma-Palazzo Lancelotti

Agostino Tassi (Buonamici) (1578-1644)-'the embarkation of a queen'-oil on canvas-ca 1615     Private collection

Agostino Tassi (Buonamici) (1578-1644)-'ship-building port'-oil on canvas

Vanity (vanitas) (vaidade)

The Latin word “vanitas” means “empty”. That’s why it is connected to the idea of insignificance and vanity of earthly life. In the Bible (Ecclesiastes 1:2) there’s the expression “vanity of vanities! All is vanity”. This type of work of art is included in the style “still life”. In the 16th century it was associated with “Ars moriendi”, “Memento mori” and “Dance of Death”, which included skulls.


Em latim a palavra “vanitas” significa vazio. Por isso lhe atribuem a insignificância e vaidade da vida terrena. Na Bíblia (Eclesiastes 1, 2) surge a expressão “vaidade das vaidades! Tudo é vaidade”. Este tipo de obra de arte inclui-se no estilo 'natureza morta'. Pelo séc. XVI esteve ligado às designações Ars moriendi, Memento mori e Dança da morte, com inclusão de caveiras.

Charles-Joseph-Frédéric Soulacroix (1825-1879)-'vanitas still-life'-oil on canvas Private collection

Jacques Grief called Claeuw (ca 1625-ca 1676)-'vanitas still-life'-oil on canvas Jacksonville (Florida)-the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens

Jean-Léon-Bazille Perrault (1832-1908)-'vanitas still-life'-oil on canvas Private collection

Evert Collier (ca 1640-1708)-'vanitas still-life'-oil on canvas-1665 Private collection

Jan Lievens (1607-1674)-'vanitas still-life'-oil on panel Amsterdam-Rijksmuseum