VANITAS

 

Vanitas is a still life  that symbolizes the precariousness of life. In fact, the name is due to the biblical expression vanitas vanitatum et omnia vanitas, futility of futilites and everything is futility. His most important symbols are cut flowers, hourglasses and skulls. It is a  theme spread expecially in 17th century Europe, because of a feeling of uncertanty of a period troubled by  Guerra dei Trent'Anni (Thirty Years War) and plague.