Vermeer's Vanity
by Shirley Marie Dees |
 |
| The theme of this vanity is vanity itself. The
main image is borrowed from Jan Vermeer's "Woman with a Pearl
Necklace" c. 1664. This area of the composition is 22"
wide by 27" height. To the left is a small, beveled real
mirror which is intended to relate to the mirror in front of the
woman. The entire vanity = 50.5" width x 21" depth x
68" height (at the top of the mirror). Images in this composition
include trompe l'oile effects: the plate depicted on a shelf above
the main image and the vase of flowers with pearls beside are
all painted, as are the tiles on the surfaces below. All drawers
are lined in a coordinating, protected fabric. The text to the
left of the main image is taken from a poem by Anne Bradstreet,
an American colonist at the time and a contemporary of Vermeer.
It reads: "...If not in honor, beauty, age, nor treasure, nor yet in wisdom, learning, youth, nor pleasure, where shall I climb, sound, seek, search, or find that summum bonum which may stay my mind? It brings to honor which shall ne'er decay, it stores with wealth which time can't wear away. It yieldeth pleasures far beyond conceit, and truly beautifies without deceit. Nor strength, nor wisdom, nor fresh youth shall fade, nor death shall see, but are immortal made. This pearl of price, this tree of life, this spring, who is possessed of shall reign a king. Nor change of state nor care shall ever see, but wear his crown unto eternity. This satiates the soul, this stays the mind, and all the rest, but vanity we find." |
| Link to view of vanity details here |
Price: $1,400 |
 |
 |