Vain Collection (#7)

To Beauty. (from the series On Death II), 1898-1910. Private Collection

Dead mother. (from the series On Death II), 1898-1910. Private Collection

Temptation. (from the series On Death II), 1898-1910. Private Collection

Ruler (from the series On Death II), 1898-1910. Private Collection

Misery (from the series On Death II), 1898-1910. Private Collection

Philosopher (from the series On Death II), 1898-1910. Private Collection

View of a portly City volunteer admiring himself in the mirror, 1785. The City militia was often satirised for its unsoldierly appearance

An eighteenth-century dandy in Ranelagh Gardens, London, 1772. A macaroni or dandy in powdered wig, lace shirt and knee-britches, with a sword, and carrying a three-cornered hat in his left hand

Time displays ruins and masterpieces, 1822. Found in the Collection of Muse e du Louvre, Paris

Title page of Regimen wider die Pestilenz by Philipp Culmacher, c. 1495. Private Collection

Death Comes to the Banquet Table (Memento Mori), Between 1625 and 1638. Found in the Collection of Fine Art Museum of North Carolina

Death, 1897. Found in the Collection of State Art Museum of Republic Latvia, Riga

Self-portrait with skull, 1809. Private Collection

Time protecting Truth from the Attacks of Discord and Envy, 1641. Found in the Collection of Muse e du Louvre, Paris

Self-Portrait with a Skull, c. 1520. Found in the Collection of Muzeul National Brukenthal, Sibiu

Nine allegorical compositions on the uncertainty of life, Second Half of the 18th cen. Found in the Collection of State Central Literary Museum, Moscow

Saturn, Mid of 16th cen.. Private Collection

Prudence prevents time from destroying ancient art, 1670s. Private Collection

Merry company surprised by death, 1660. Found in the Collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Emblem from Sinn- en Minne-beelden (Sense- and Love-pictures) by Jacob Cats, 1627. Private Collection

Boy Blowing Soap Bubbles. Allegory on the Transitoriness and the Brevity of Life, 1663. Found in the Collection of Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen

Chronos and his child, Second Quarter of the 17th cen.. Found in the Collection of Muzeum Narodowe, Warsaw

The End of All Things, 1887. Found in the collection of National Gallery, Prague

The Dying Man, ca 1518. Found in the collection of Museum der Bildenden Kunste, Leipzig

Life and Death, 1905. Found in the collection of Nationalmuseum Stockholm

The Triumphal Arch of Death, Between 1635 and 1660. Found in the collection of Musee d art et d histoire, Genf

Vanitas Still Life with a Skull, a Book and Roses, c. 1630
Vanitas Still Life with a Skull, a Book and Roses, c.1630. Found in the Collection of Nationalmuseum Stockholm

Woman Weighing Gold, ca 1662. Found in the Collection of Staatliche Museen, Berlin

The Triumph of Death, 1465-1470. Found in the Collection of Pinacoteca Nazionale, Siena

Death and Life. Found in the Collection of Munch Museum, Oslo

Allegory of Time. Private Collection

Old Woman with a Pearl Necklace and Letter (Vanitas), ca 1663. Found in the collection of National Gallery, Prague

Embroidery with the Depiction of the Allegory of Time. Found in the Collection of State Hermitage, St. Petersburg

Three Ages of the Woman and the Death. Found in the Collection of Art History Museum, Vienne

An anamorphic Trompe l Oeil with a Vanitas still life. Private Collection

The Lovers and death (The walk). Private Collection

Vanity or Young woman at her toilet, c. 1626. Artist: Renieri (Regnier), Niccolo (c. 1590-1667)
Vanity or Young woman at her toilet, c. 1626. Found in the collection of Musee des Beaux-Arts, Lyon

Memento mori. The back side of the triptych, 1500. Artist: Albertinelli, Mariotto (1474-1515)
Memento mori. The back side of the triptych, 1500. Found in the collection of Museo Poldi Pezzoli, Milan

The Death of the Grave Digger (La mort du fossoyeur), 1895-1900. Artist: Schwabe, Carlos (1866-1926)
The Death of the Grave Digger (La mort du fossoyeur), 1895-1900. Found in the collection of Musee du Louvre, Paris

Vanitas Still Life with a Terrestrial Globe, a Book, Shells, a Snake and Butterflies. Private Collection

Young Couple Threatened by Death (The Promenade). Artist: Durer, Albrecht (1471-1528)
Young Couple Threatened by Death (The Promenade). Found in the collection of Universalmuseum Joanneum

Vanity (The Source of Evil). Artist: Segantini, Giovanni (1858-1899)
Vanity (The Source of Evil). Found in the collection of Kunsthaus Zurich

Vanitas. Still Life with Books, Manuscripts and a Skull. Artist: Collier, Edward (active 1662-1708)
Vanitas. Still Life with Books, Manuscripts and a Skull. Found in the collection of National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo

Still life with musical instruments and books (Vanitas). Artist: Vermeulen, Jan (active 1638-1674)
Still life with musical instruments and books (Vanitas). Found in the collection of National Gallery, Prague

The Knights Dream. Artist: Pereda y Salgado, Antonio, de (1611-1678)
The Knights Dream. Found in the collection of Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, Madrid

The Ages and Death. Artist: Baldung, Hans (1484-1545)
The Ages and Death. Found in the collection of Museo del Prado, Madrid

Old Woman Tearing at her Hair. Artist: Massys, Quentin (1466?1530)
Old Woman Tearing at her Hair. Found in the collection of Museo del Prado, Madrid

Lost Illusions (The Evening). Artist: Gleyre, Charles (1808-1874)
Lost Illusions (The Evening). Found in the collection of Louvre, Paris

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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.