Collecting Still Life Painting

Still life painting is one of the most enduring and recognisable genres in European art. From the symbolic vanitas compositions of the Dutch Golden Age to later floral and domestic arrangements, still life works have long appealed to collectors for their technical brilliance, rich symbolism and decorative appeal. Roseberys’ upcoming Old Master, British & European Pictures auction on 10 March 2026 includes a selection of striking examples spanning several centuries of the genre.

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The origins of still life painting can be traced back to the art of the ancient world, perhaps most famously in the wall paintings discovered in the buildings of Pompeii and Herculaneum which depicted everyday objects and animals. It is in late 16^th-century Europe, however, that still life emerged in the form we recognise today. Indeed, this approach was pioneered by artists from the Netherlands, and it is from the Dutch word ‘stilleven’ the English term ‘still life’ derives. Despite its place at the bottom of the ‘hierarchy’ of artistic genres (as it existed in the minds of early modern critics) still life has always enjoyed popularity amongst collectors, and it is in response to this demand that artists have continually worked to perfect the form.

Lot 70: Circle of Edwaert Collier, Dutch / English c.1640-1708- A vanitas still life
Estimate: £5,000 - £8,000

One aspect of still life painting which is central to its importance, particularly in the minds of 16^th-century Europeans, is its role as ‘vanitas’, or ‘memento mori’. In this way, the composition draws attention to the constant presence of death and, by extension, the impermanence of life and material wealth. This is achieved through the depiction of items such as skulls, sand timers, or, as in lot 71, the scene from the Circle of Edwaert Collier, a pocket watch, ephemeral soap bubbles, and a freshly extinguished candle.

Lot 71: Paul Theodor van Brussel, Dutch 1754-1795- Still life with plums, grapes, and hollyhocks

Estimate: £10,000 - £15,000

The emergence of still life as a distinct genre also coincided with an increased European interest in botanical illustrations, fuelled by the discovery of a variety of different flora and fauna by Western explorers in the ‘New World’. Floral still lifes therefore tapped into this newfound fascination with the natural world, whilst also gesturing towards a sense of wealth and bounty which would undoubtedly have appealed to viewers. Lot 71 is a striking example of such an abundant still life in our upcoming sale.

Lot 69: Studio of Jan Davidsz. de Heem, Dutch 1606-1684- A still life of crayfish, bread and fruit with an oyster on a pewter dish
Estimate: £10,000 - £15,000

Another significant feature of the still life genre is the opportunity it affords painters to exhibit their technical proficiency, as they depict a variety of surfaces and textures with great skill. This masterful painterly technique is displayed in a sensitively-handled composition from the studio of Jan Davidsz. de Heem in which a crumbling loaf of bread, a delicate glass and a gleaming pewter plate are all depicted with striking verisimilitude.

Lot 72: Alois Zabehlicky, Austrian 1883-1963- Floral still life with bluebells, tulips, and chrysanthemums
Estimate: £1,000 - £1,500

This tradition of still life is not restricted to the 16^th and 17^th centuries, however, with artists continuing to produce similarly intricate compositions up until the present day. A number of exquisitely-painted still lifes by 19^th century artists can be found in Roseberys' March Old Master, British & European Pictures auction, including lot 72 by Alois Zabehlicky, lot 73 by Josef Osbeck, and lots 74 and 75, both by Frederick Victor Bailey, all of which can achieve the same effect at a more affordable entry point for buyers.