The Rafael Valls Sale, Part II
The Rafael Valls Sale, Part II
Vanitas still life with a skull, an hourglass, money bags, a crown, a watch, a telescope, spectacles, a violin, a flute, a candle, a manuscript, and other objects, on a black cloth with a gold trim, covering a stone plinth
Lot Closed
December 16, 02:21 PM GMT
Estimate
15,000 - 20,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Jan Vermeulen
active in Haarlem before 1652 - in or after 1655
Vanitas still life with a skull, an hourglass, money bags, a crown, a watch, a telescope, spectacles, a violin, a flute, a candle, a manuscript, and other objects, on a black cloth with a gold trim, covering a stone plinth
signed lower right: J. vanderMeulen
oil on panel
unframed: 69.3 x 55.9 cm.; 27¼ x 22 in.;
framed: 90.3 x 76.2 cm.; 35⅝ x 30 in.
Anonymous sale, Laren N.H., Christie’s, 28 October 1975, lot 280.
Very little is known about prolific Dutch still-life painter Jan Vermeulen. A painter 'Johannes van der Moolen' is registered for the first time in the Haarlem guild records in 1651, and vanitas still lifes by 'Vermeulen' are found in Haarlem inventories from 1652.
In the present painting, the skull, hourglass, extinguished candle and pocket watch all reinforce the inscription that is illuminated on the manuscript in the centre: mors omnia vincit, 'death conquers all'. A similar work by Vermeulen, which replicates certain objects in the present painting, was sold in New York, Sotheby's, 31 January 2013, lot 149.1
1 https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2013/old-master-paintings-n08952/lot.149.html