Edward Collier was a Dutch Golden Age still-life painter. His painting Still Life with a Volume of Wither's 'Emblemes' painted in 1696 shows various signs and symbols throughout his still life. The skull placed in the dark background as well as the music instruments that are scattered around to oil painting symbolises the phrase Memento mori, which was a Latin phrase meaning ‘remember you must die’. A memento mori is an artwork designed to remind the viewer of their mortality and of the shortness and fragility of human life. Musical Instruments were used to represent the Memento mori as it was believed that when the music stopped it would be dead.
Furthermore, Edward Collier reflected social class and it’s change in the late 1600’s in Europe.
Furthermore, Edward Collier reflected social class and it’s change in the late 1600’s in Europe.