German Master late 16th century, German Master late 16th century Homo Bulla - Allegory of Vanitas

Oil on panel, 33.5 × 23.5 cm

A putto lies upon a white cloth, his head resting against a skull partially concealed beneath the fabric. Balanced on his raised left hand is a sparrow, while his right hand rests upon an hourglass, symbolizing the passage of time. A toy spaniel runs under one of the putto's legs.The essence of the picture is characterised by a contrast of the message of the image and a depicted playful character within it. The hourglass serves as a bitter reminder of life's transience, echoing the Latin inscription inscribed in gold at the top of the picture: “Hominis vitae similis bullae quae eodem momento quo fit perit” (“Life of a human is like a soap bubble , which perishes at the same moment, it is created.”). This phrase, originating from antiquity as "homo bulla," found resonance in the works of Erasmus of Rotterdam within his collection of proverbs, "Adagia."

The motif of "homo bulla" gained prominence in painting and printmaking during the late 16th and 17th centuries, encapsulating the universal contemplation of life's fleeting nature. Oil on panel, 33.5 × 23.5 cm