Vain Collection (#3)

Yves Donguy Scores For Toulouse As Will Cliff Tries In Vain Toulouse V Sale Sharks Rugby Union Toulouse V Sale Sharks, Heineken Cup, Pool 5 Stade Municipal, Toulouse

In front of the mirror (oil on canvas)
OVR390569 In front of the mirror (oil on canvas) by Krohg, Christian (1852-1925); Private Collection; Photo © O. Vaering

A wig shop, c1780-1825. Creator: Thomas Rowlandson
A wig shop, c1780-1825. The two old ladies examining a girlish headdress displayed by the wigmaker are delightfully satisfied with the model, if one can judge from their expressions

The flower vendor, 1882. Creator: Prouve, Victor (1858-1943)
The flower vendor, 1882. Private Collection

Time abducting truth, c. 1630. Creator: Cesari, Giuseppe (1568-1640)
Time abducting truth, c.1630. Private Collection

The New Dress, 1888 (oil on panel)
989391 The New Dress, 1888 (oil on panel) by Carpentier, Evariste (1845-1922); 61x48.6 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: The New Dress. Evariste Carpentier (1845-1922). Oil on panel

A girl wearing a bonnet, looking at herself in a mirror with a chocolatiere
2960394 A girl wearing a bonnet, looking at herself in a mirror with a chocolatiAre and a cup on the table, c.1750 (pastel on paper) by French School

Adolescence, 1874 (watrcolour and gouache)
827146 Adolescence, 1874 (watrcolour and gouache) by Muckley, William Jabez (1837-1905); 32.5x25.8 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Adolescence. William Jabez Muckley (1837-1905)

The Red Shoes (colour litho)
3622336 The Red Shoes (colour litho) by Anderson, Anne (1874-1930) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Red Shoes)

The Last Fond Look (engraving)
6000805 The Last Fond Look (engraving) by Cruikshank, George (1792-1878); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Last Fond Look)

Bachelorland: single man worried about his appearance (chromolitho)
5996136 Bachelorland: single man worried about his appearance (chromolitho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Bachelorland: single man worried about his appearance)

Mocking the beauty of the painting The Mirror of Venus by Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones (colour litho)
6000008 Mocking the beauty of the painting The Mirror of Venus by Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones (colour litho) by English School

Beautiful girl kissing her reflection in the mirror (colour litho)
6031570 Beautiful girl kissing her reflection in the mirror (colour litho) by Brandard, John (1812-63) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Beautiful girl kissing her reflection in the mirror)

Surveying on the New Guinea Coast, a Nocturne (engraving)
1046889 Surveying on the New Guinea Coast, a Nocturne (engraving) by Nash, Joseph (d.1922); Private Collection; (add.info.: Surveying on the New Guinea Coast, a Nocturne)

A beauty contest between Cassiopeia and the Nereids judged by Aion, House of Aion, Paphos
696742 A beauty contest between Cassiopeia and the Nereids judged by Aion, House of Aion, Paphos, Cyprus (mosaic) by Roman, (3rd century AD); House of Aion, Kato Paphos

Girl with Red Hair (pastel on canvas)
712154 Girl with Red Hair (pastel on canvas) by Gervex, Henri (1852-1929); Private Collection; French, out of copyright

"In vain Nigel tried to draw from the youth his name"(engraving)
2792744 " In vain Nigel tried to draw from the youth his name" (engraving) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

"The poor sparrow chirped and struggled in vain"(engraving)
2796517 " The poor sparrow chirped and struggled in vain" (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Illustration from The Whole Art of Dress or The Road to Elegance and Fashion, pub
2909739 Illustration from The Whole Art of Dress or The Road to Elegance and Fashion, pub. 1832 (hand coloured engraving) by Cruikshank

The Finishing Touch, pub. 1791 (hand colured engraving)
3025372 The Finishing Touch, pub. 1791 (hand colured engraving) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sarah Archer (nee West), Lady Archer (1741-1801)

La Toilette de Pierrette (colour litho)
3098555 La Toilette de Pierrette (colour litho) by Madrazo y Garreta, Raimundo de (1841-1920); Private Collection; (add.info.: La Toilette de Pierrette)

When Love was Lost and Life was Vain: Pierrot Forlorn. In the Autumn of Youth: " Fallen Leaves". Date: 1912

Self Portrait (oil on canvas)
GRH242121 Self Portrait (oil on canvas) by Bacon, Nathaniel (1585-1627); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sir Nathaniel Bacon of Culford; ); British, out of copyright

The Sin (oil on canvas)
XIR210438 The Sin (oil on canvas) by Romero de Torres, Julio (1880-1930); Museo Julio Romero de Torres, Cordoba, Andalucia, Spain; Spanish, out of copyright

Napoleon (1769-1821) and his wife Josephine (1763-1814) Preparing the Coronation
CHT173592 Napoleon (1769-1821) and his wife Josephine (1763-1814) Preparing the Coronation, illustration from Bonaparte by G

Evangeline is an epic poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow published in 1847 which describes the separation of Evangeline and her beloved Gabriel during the expulsion of the Acadian community from Nova

The Allegory of the Living
FIA5326092 The Allegory of the Living by Cagnacci, Guido (1601-63); M.P. Kroshitsky Art Museum, Sevastopol, Russia; (add.info)

The Lobster, with a hairbrush in its Claw Standing Before a Dressing Table
985964 The Lobster, with a hairbrush in its Claw Standing Before a Dressing Table, with 4 Lines of Verse, c.1865 (pen and brown ink) by Tenniel

Her scolding was but in vain (litho)
5224750 Her scolding was but in vain (litho) by Robinson, William Heath (1872-1944); Private Collection; (add.info.: Her scolding was but in vain)

Vanity, (oil on canvas)
827100 Vanity, (oil on canvas) by Brunery, Francesco (1845-1926); 56.5x47 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Vanity. Francois Brunery (1849-1926). Oil on canvas

Woman at a Dressing Table, (oil on canvas)
650764 Woman at a Dressing Table, (oil on canvas) by Frieseke, Frederick Carl (1874-1939); 81.3x81.3 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Woman at a Dressing Table)

Man fixing his moustache in the mirror (colour litho)
5999954 Man fixing his moustache in the mirror (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Man fixing his moustache in the mirror)

My dear and only Love (engraving)
5235586 My dear and only Love (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: My dear and only Love. Writing Paper.); Look and Learn / Valerie Jackson Harris Collection

Don ts for sweethearts: don t take your girls photo if you can t do justice to her (colour litho)
5207469 Don ts for sweethearts: don t take your girls photo if you can t do justice to her (colour litho) by Payne, Gilbert Morris (1879-1947); Private Collection; (add.info.: Don ts for sweethearts)

A Vestal of -93, trying on the Cestus of Venus, pub. 1793 (hand coloured engraving)
3025382 A Vestal of -93, trying on the Cestus of Venus, pub. 1793 (hand coloured engraving) by Gillray, James (1757-1815); Private Collection; (add.info)

Rich Dandy Wearing a Monocle and Tophat, 1902 (colour litho)
3034684 Rich Dandy Wearing a Monocle and Tophat, 1902 (colour litho) by American School, (20th century); (add.info.: Victorian illustration of a rich dandy wearing a tophat and monocle; lithograph)

St. Valentines Morning, 1863
WAG13312 St. Valentines Morning, 1863 by Horsley, John Callcott (1817-1903); Wolverhampton Art Gallery, West Midlands, UK; eWolverhampton Art Gallery; English, out of copyright

Leaving off Powder, or A Frugal Family saving the Guinea
NCO191734 Leaving off Powder, or A Frugal Family saving the Guinea, published by Hannah Humphrey in 1795 (hand-coloured etching) by Gillray

In the Mirror, 1890 (colour litho)
CHT188877 In the Mirror, 1890 (colour litho) by Toulmouche, Auguste (1829-90); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris, France; eArchives Charmet; French, out of copyright

Vanity, 1904 (oil on canvas)
MIB162889 Vanity, 1904 (oil on canvas) by Friedrich, Otto (1862-1937); 130x125 cm; Private Collection; eWhitford Fine Art, London, UK; Austrian, out of copyright

The Lady of the Lake sits by the Fountain in Arroy, illustration from
STC335716 The Lady of the Lake sits by the Fountain in Arroy, illustration from The Story of King Arthur and his Knights, 1903 (litho) by Pyle

Lady Flora (w / c)
BRA33362 Lady Flora (w/c) by Sullivan, Edmund Joseph (1869-1933); 76.2x55.8 cm; Bradford Art Galleries and Museums, West Yorkshire, UK; eBradford Museums & Galleries; English, out of copyright

Old Mr. Turveydrop, from Bleak House, 1923 (colour litho)
KDC465780 Old Mr. Turveydrop, from Bleak House, 1923 (colour litho) by Clarke, Joseph Clayton (Kyd) (1856-1937); Private Collection; (add.info.: Old Mr Turveydrop)

Divine Right (colour litho)
2813058 Divine Right (colour litho) by Anderson, Martin " Cynicus" (1854-1932); Private Collection; (add.info.: Divine Right)

Le Miroir (The Mirror) (colour litho)
3098849 Le Miroir (The Mirror) (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Le Miroir (The Mirror)

Hasta la muerte, 1799 (etching, drypoint and aquatint)
1217342 Hasta la muerte, 1799 (etching, drypoint and aquatint) by Goya y Lucientes, Francisco Jose de (1746-1828); 18.9x13.2 cm; Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

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"Vanity Unveiled: A Captivating Glimpse into the Human Obsession with Self" In Arnold Bocklin's "Self-portrait with Death Playing the Fiddle, " vanity dances in harmony with mortality. The artist's blue dress from 1922, reminiscent of a frothy beer, symbolizes indulgence and self-absorption. Lovis Corinth's haunting "Selfportrait with skeleton" serves as a chilling reminder that even beauty succumbs to decay. Antoine Wiertz captures the essence of vanity in "The Two Young Girls - The Beautiful Rosine. " Their delicate features and coquettish smiles reflect an obsession with outward appearance. Meanwhile, "The Last Stand Of The Northamptons At Saran Sar" showcases how pride can lead to downfall on the battlefield. Daniel Maclise's portrayal of Malvolio and the Countess depicts the folly of arrogance, while Narcissus' infatuation with his own reflection in c. 1597-99 reveals a dangerous self-love. Konstantin Andreyevich Somov's whimsical "Harlequin and Death" reminds us that vanity blinds us to our inevitable fate. "Fable / Fox & Grapes" teaches us about unattainable desires born out of conceit, while Princess Ka-Iulani embodies both grace and vulnerability amidst societal expectations. Lastly, a photomontage showcasing women adorned in feathered hats highlights society's obsession with fashion as a means for validation. Through these captivating artworks spanning centuries, we witness humanity grappling with its own image – forever entranced by its own reflection yet blind to its fleeting nature. Vanity remains an enigmatic force that drives us towards self-obsession but also exposes our deepest insecurities.