Vanitas Paintings

http://www.timetrips.co.uk/still_life_history.htm

"A Still Life is a work of art, a drawing or painting (usually) of a group of objects. Objects do not move, hence the word 'still'. In the past these objects tended to be flowers, fruit, and other kinds of food or dead animals - hence 'life'."

Vanitas Paintings: 

the idea behind Vanitas paintings was that it was in reference to a passage of the bible in revelations. They would paint a skull representing death or the coming of death yet paint all rich and expensive possessions around the skull. It shows that people are really vain and only care about the richer things in life but what does all that mean and come to once your dead? they don't come with you! so why be so attached to them in this life. 

Hermen Steenwijck - Vanitas (1640)

This painting is really quite full of detail. I like the beam of light that is coming from the left hand side of the image that hits the skull in the centre and really illuminates it. There is also simple detail put into the pipes and the shell on the table. Its subtle and not too in your face but the more that you look at the image you begin to see the details more clearly and more things seem to become noticeable. This is what i like about it. Its not too busy all at once and in your face.