a little still life never hurt anyone

had a brilliant day with one of my new groups today - quite often when we present still life as a subject there is a collective sigh of disappointment. It doesn't normally take too long, however, to get everyone engaged - the history of still life painting really is fascinating and the vanitas/momento mori paintings of the 16th/17th century are quite difficult to beat in terms of symbolism and moral guidance.... I could, of course, go on but it's been quite a long day already. If you are interested- please look up the Spanish bodegon paintings and the Flemish vanitas. You might just get hooked.....