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Learn about the origins, development and characteristics of still life, a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter. Explore the examples of still life in ancient, medieval, Renaissance and modern art, and the symbolism and techniques used by different artists.
- What Is A Still Life?
- Types of Still Lifes
- History of Still Life Painting
- Contemporary Art
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A still life (also known by its French title, nature morte) painting is a piece that features an arrangement of inanimate objects as its subject. Usually, these items are set on a table and often include organic objects like fruit and flowers and household items like glassware and textiles. The term “still life” is derived from the Dutch word still...
Most still lifes can be placed into one of four categories: flowers, banquet or breakfast, animal(s), and symbolic. While most of these types are self-explanatory—flower pieces tend to focus on bouquets or vases of full blooms and a banquet work features an array of food items—symbolic still lifes can vary greatly. In most cases, symbolic paintings...
Ancient Art
The earliest known still life paintings were created by the Egyptians in the 15th century BCE. Funerary paintings of food—including crops, fish, and meat—have been discovered in ancient burial sites. The most famous ancient Egyptian still-life was discovered in the Tomb of Menna, a site whose walls were adorned with exceptionally detailed scenes of everyday life. Ancient Greeks and Romans also created similar depictions of inanimate objects. While they mostly reserved still-life subject matte...
Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages, artists adapted the still life for religious purposes. In addition to incorporating symbolic arrangements into depictions of Biblical scenes, they also used them to decorate illuminated manuscripts. Objects like coins, seashells, and bushels of fruit can be found in the borders of these books, including the elaborately decorated Hours of Catherine of Cleves from the 15th century.
Renaissance
Northern Renaissance artists popularized still life iconography with their flower paintings. These pieces typically showcase colorful flora “from different countries and even different continents in one vase and at one moment of blooming” (Metropolitan Museum of Art) and often do not feature other subject matter. These paintings rose to prominence in the early 17th century, when Northern Renaissance artistsgrew increasingly interested in creating realistic studies of everyday items. Dutch Gol...
Today, many artists put a contemporary twist on the timeless tradition by painting still lifes of modern-day food and objects in a hyperrealisticstyle. Much like the pieces that inspire them, these high-definition paintings prove that even the most mundane objects can be made into masterpieces.
Learn about the genre of still life painting, which features inanimate objects as its subject. Explore its origins from ancient times to contemporary art, and discover its different types and styles.
- Sunflowers By Vincent Van Gogh. Artist: Vincent van Gogh | Year (completed): 1889 | Period: Post-Impressionism. The paintings of sunflowers are some of Van Gogh's earliest works from Arles that exhibit his distinctive, expressive style.
- Still Life With Figs And Bread By Luis Meléndez. Artist: Luis Meléndez | Year (completed): 1770. Luis Meléndez is regarded as one of the greatest still-life painters in all of Europe and the greatest still-life painter of 18th-century Spain.
- Trompe-L'oeil Still Life With A Flower Garland And A Curtain By Adriaen Van Der Spelt. Artist: Adriaen van der Spelt | Year (completed): 1658 | Period: Baroque.
- 32 Campbell's Soup Cans By Andy Warhol. Artist: Andy Warhol | Year (completed): 1962 | Periods: Pop art, Modern art. There was little indication that Andy Warhol, whose parents were immigrants from Slovakia and who was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, would lead the burgeoning 1960s pop culture.
Learn what still life is and how it is used in Western art history. Find out the different types, styles and meanings of still life paintings and sculptures, from celebrations of material pleasures to warnings of mortality.
Learn what a still life is, how to create one, and what styles and themes to explore. See examples of still life art from different periods and movements, from realism to pop art.
Jun 18, 2021 · Still Life painting developed as an art genre from the earliest centuries during the Egyptian and Roman periods. The history of the object can be tracked in many still lifes, from fruits, vegetables, skulls, and goblets. This article will explore the history of Still Life and famous Still Life paintings.
Learn about the history and features of still life painting, a genre that focuses on depicting inanimate objects. Discover 10 of the most famous still life paintings by artists like Van Gogh, Cezanne, and Caravaggio.
