Vanitas - Still Life with Books and Manuscripts and a Skull

Collier was a Dutch painter who specialized in the "Vanitas" type of still life composed of such motifs as a skeleton, globe, or musical instruments which were portrayed as a warning against the vanity of this world. He did a large number of still lifes including books, which were symbols of scholarship and worldly matters. At first sight, objects may appear to be standing at random, but it soon becomes evident that the composition was carefully defined along the two diagonals. Inscribed on the piece of paper is a passage quoted from Chapter 26 of "The Book of Psalms". (Source: The Digital Gallery. 1999-2006)