• Define what still life is 
• Show examples of still life painting and photography 

• Include specific artist references and choose one image for analysis using matrix 
• Provide a chronological timeline of still life photography 

Then Answer 

• What is Vanitas? 
• What is Memento Mori? 

• What kind of metaphors and symbols are used in still life and why? 

Light – Shape- Shadow – Composition – Metaphor – Symbolism – Memento Mori 

What is still life? 

 The work of art that shows inanimate objects from the natural or manmade world typically containing fruit, flowers or gold candle holders often to show wealth.

Artist Reference  

Vincent Van Gogh was a Dutch impressionist painter. He created 2100 pieces of artwork including 860 oil paintings. This painting shows kitchen bowls and glass bottles which contrasts against the brown wood table, this still life painting done by Vincent van Gogh explores old artefacts and possessions that are important or have meaning to him. 

Chronological timeline of Leonardo Da Vinci still life Photography ?

1442- He was accepted into the painter’s guild in Florence at the age of 20 

1476- Accused of sodomy publicly humiliated  

1483- Paints the rocks  

1500- Returns to Florence  

1519- Leonardo Da Vinci Dies  

What is Vanitas? 

It’s a still life painting of a 17^th century Dutch genre containing symbols of death or change. 

What is Memento muri?   

An object that is kept for the reminder of inevitbility of death. 

What kind of metaphors and symbols are used in still life and why? 

Fruit – varying symbolism  

Skulls – The certainty of mortality  

Flowers – Symbol of life and growth