Allegory on Human Life

Elaborate garlands of sensuous, fragile blossoms at the height of their beauty and fruit ripe to the point of bursting- all inviting our touch before their inevitable decay- were often depicted framing spiritually significant images. Here they frame and complement a still life of objects alluding to the brevity of human life: a skull, a burning candle, and an hourglass. The combination encourages a meditation on the miracle of Christ's Resurrection from his mortal death and the resurrection promised through Christ to the faithful. Along with fruits and flowers including roses, grapes, cherries, and thistles, as well as butterflies and a beetle, Van Son has included corn, a New World addition to the European diet.