Allegory of the vanity of life or youth, ErasmusQuellinus II (Antwerp 1607 – 1672)

ErasmusQuellinus II (Antwerp 1607 – 1672)
Vanitas (as an allegory of the vanity of life or youth)
Oil on canvas – cm. 121 x 84, in frame cm. 135 x 98

The work is accompanied by an in-depth study written by prof. Emilio Negro, of which we present some extracts.

– COMPLETE DETAILS CAN BE CONSULTED DIRECTLY ON: https://www.antichitacastelbarco.it/it/prodotti/erasmus-quellinus-ii–vanitas

The theme of the painting that we propose is a singular and rare "Vanitas", a subject of strong moral value which, in the pictorial context, refers to a composition with symbolic elements alluding to the theme of the transience of life, and therefore intent on urging the spectator to meditation on the transience of human destiny and the fragility of worldly pleasures.

These subjects, which had particular success in the Flemish context, are works of great charm, interesting to study and often difficult to decipher; protagonist of our canvas we see a capricious cupid, sitting on a sarcophagus, a sort of anthropomorphic pictorial Carpe Diem (seize the fleeting moment), which invites us to meditate on the fleeting nature of life and to enjoy the moments of happiness granted by it; this without worrying about the alternating fortunes of fate, symbolized by the foot of the cherub trampling on the gold coins, the precious fabric, the scepter, the ermine stole, the skull, the hunting horn and the books.

At his side is a still life of colorful flowers, collected in a crystal vase, whose presence takes on a clear allegorical meaning, since they constitute the metaphor of the transience of youthful beauty which, like fresh flowers, is destined to wither.
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Regarding the pictorial origin of the composition in question, it should be noted first of all that it is an interesting replica, with some modifications, of a work created by four hands by ErasmusQuellinus the Younger (the figure of the putto) and Daniel Seghers (the still life).
A version of the same composition entitled 'Allegory of the passage of Youth' is also known, sold at Sotheby's in Amsterdam as Cornelis Schut and Daniël Seghers (12.12.1991, Old master Paintings and Drawings, lot 218, Price €16.630, then sold to London as Thomas Willeboirts Bosschaert (Sotheby's 16.12.1999, lot 59, Hammer price: €126.592 / £80.000).
Here is the link to the painting: https://rkd.nl/en/explore/images/record?filters%5Bkunstenaar%5D=Willeboirts+Bosschaert%2C+Thomas&…
And again the Vanity attributed to Thomas Willeboirts Bosschaert and sold in Vienna by Dorotheum (17/10/2007, and estimated: €18.000-24.000, link: https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/thomas-willeboirts- bosschaert-bergen-op-zoom-1613-228-c-ms7xg…#
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These reasons make it possible to connect this Vanitas to the modus operandi of the aforementioned ErasmusQuellinus the Younger (Antwerp, 1607-1678), one of Rubens' closest collaborators in the 30s, assisted here by the intervention of a valid collaborator trained in inside his active workshop. Descended from a renowned family of artists (since his father was the painter ErasmusQuellinus the Elder) ErasamusQuellinus II worked mainly in Flanders where his activity is testified by the numerous compositions similar to ours, attributed to him and kept in the most important public and private collections . Furthermore, he was the head of an established atelier in which numerous students were trained, including his children and grandchildren. It is true that in the canvas in question, credibly destined to adorn the walls of a noble residence of a collector, scholar or humanist, an accurate painting emerges, above all in the insistent search for details, in warm colours, which are specific qualities of the best works executed from Erasmus.

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The work, like all our objects, is sold accompanied by a certificate of photographic authenticity in accordance with the law.

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