Comparison of 'Vanitas with Violin and Glass Ball' by Pieter Claesz and 'Implement Blue' by Margaret Preston

VANITAS WITH VIOLIN AND GLASS BALL - PIETER CLAESZ

oil on panel, 1628, 36 x 59, Germanisches National Museum, Nuremberg

- Claesz was one of the most important Dutch still life painters of the 17th century.
- His principal aim was to render the materials and catch the reflected light as accurately as possible. His compositional and painterly techniques and his extensive painting skills illustrated in his works made him highly admirable.
- Both traditional patrons of art and the merging middle class had a strong interest in the art form of still life
- Still life art in the 17th century often included strong sybolism to suggest meaning behind the objects. This work is strongly influenced by symbolism for example; The overturned glass drained to the very last drop symbolises the brevity of earthly pleasures.
- Lighting is important in the work to signify importance of some objects for example; the violin.

IMPLEMENT BLUE - MARGARET PRESTON

oil on canvas on hardboard, 1927, 42 x 43, New South Wales, Australia

- Margaret Preston was one of Austalia's most celebrated modern artists.
- She concentrated on the principals and motifs of modernist art, Asian art and Aboriginal art.
- Austrlian art in the 1900's was more characterised by European influences and Preston felt strongly about this so she developed a preoccupation with the idea of developing a modern and distinctly Australian art.
- The artwork consists of man made objects which have been arranged in a very modern and artificially lit space.
- The restricted colour palette in Implement Blue is very different to Margarets usual works which display colourful and elaborate flowers.