Vanitas was painted by Jacob Jordaens in 1660.

Where can I see Vanitas?

Vanitas is held by Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.

What movement is Vanitas?

Vanitas is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Artwork

Vanitas

Jacob Jordaens , 1660

Vanitas is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jacob Jordaens. It dates from 1660 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.

About this work

Overview

Rich, saturated hues of gold, red and deep blue dominate the scene, emphasizing the contrast between material splendor and the inevitability of decay.

Jacob Jordaens painted *Vanitas* in 1660, employing oil on canvas to create a still‑life composition typical of the vanitas tradition. The work assembles a variety of objects—skull, broken globe, parrot, jewels, and a silver cup—arranged on a cluttered table, surrounded by a darkly dressed man and a woman in blue. Rich, saturated hues of gold, red and deep blue dominate the scene, emphasizing the contrast between material splendor and the inevitability of decay.

Subject & Meaning

The painting juxtaposes symbols of worldly wealth and fleeting pleasure with reminders of mortality. A skull and a fractured globe serve as conventional memento mori, while the parrot and scattered gems suggest exotic luxury. The presence of a child‑like figure with the globe and the attentive woman reaching for a cup underscores the tension between youthful curiosity, desire, and the transient nature of earthly pursuits.

Technique & Style

Jordaens applies the Baroque chiaroscuro technique, using strong light to illuminate the reflective surfaces of the objects against a predominantly dark background. The brushwork combines meticulous detail in the textures of metal and feathers with broader, more gestural strokes for the surrounding drapery, creating a dynamic visual rhythm. The palette’s deep blues, reds, and golds enhance the dramatic effect while reinforcing the painting’s moral undertone.

History & Provenance

After the deaths of Rubens and van Dyck, Jordaens emerged as the leading Flemish painter, and *Vanitas* reflects his mature allegorical style. The canvas entered the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, where it remains part of the permanent collection, representing a key example of mid‑17th‑century Flemish vanitas painting.

Artist & collection

Artist

Jacob Jordaens

Jacques (Jacob) Jordaens (19 May 1593 – 18 October 1678) was a Flemish painter, draughtsman and a designer of tapestries and prints.

Museum

Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium

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