This drawing is an allegory on vanity. Vanity is represented as a young woman, dressed in a costly dress, with a book on her lap, a reference to vanity as one of the vices. Sitting on a throne, she combs her fingers through her hair and admires herself in a mirror held up by a putto and a naked woman. Vanity, in this drawing, symbolises transience. The passage of time is symbolised by the hourglass in the putto's right hand and the crystal ball under the woman's right foot. The rooster in the centre right symbolises vigilance. A vague shadow can be seen in the mirror on the right, perhaps death coming to assail vanity.
Nicolaas Verkolje made several biblical and mythological history paintings with a moral message. Probably this drawing also served as a composition study for a painting.
Specifications
| Title | Allegory on Vanity |
|---|---|
| Material and technique | Graphite, pen and brown ink, watercolour and bodycolour |
| Object type |
Drawing
> Two-dimensional object
> Art object
|
| Location | This object is in storage |
| Dimensions |
Height 437 mm Width 307 mm |
|---|---|
| Artists |
Draughtsman:
Nicolaas Verkolje
|
| Accession number | NV 1 (PK) |
| Credits | From the estate of F.J.O. Boijmans, 1847 |
| Department | Drawings & Prints |
| Acquisition date | 1847 |
| Creation date | in circa 1730-1740 |
| Collector | Collector / F.J.O. Boijmans |
| Material | |
| Object | |
| Geographical origin | The Netherlands > Western Europe > Europe |
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