Sandglass Collection

Vanitas Still Life with a Tulip, Skull and Hour-Glass (oil on panel)
XIR136795 Vanitas Still Life with a Tulip, Skull and Hour-Glass (oil on panel) by Champaigne, Philippe de (1602-74); Musee de Tesse, Le Mans, France; French, out of copyright

Vanitas (oil on canvas)
XIR160470 Vanitas (oil on canvas) by Saint-Andre, Simon Renard de (1613-1677); 65x54 cm; Private Collection; French, out of copyright

Man measured his hours in many ways (litho)
8676237 Man measured his hours in many ways (litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Man measured his hours in many ways)

The queen. The Queen has just come out of her palace, when death appears unexpectedly
FLO4675617 The queen. The Queen has just come out of her palace, when death appears unexpectedly and the drains of force to keep her away

Hourglass. Engraving 1887
530325 Hourglass. Engraving 1887.; Universal History Archive/UIG.

Mausolee of Count Maurice of Saxony (1696 -1750), marechal of France. Sculpture by Jean Baptiste Pigalle (1714-1785)
JEB4961638 Mausolee of Count Maurice of Saxony (1696 -1750), marechal of France. Sculpture by Jean Baptiste Pigalle (1714-1785) 1771-1776 Church of Saint Thomas of Strasbourg.; (add.info)

The Child. A cottage owner's wife prepares a family meal when death arrives
FLO4675821 The Child. A cottage owner's wife prepares a family meal when death arrives and takes away the youngest of her children

Temptation of Saint Anthony (oil on copper)
8682955 Temptation of Saint Anthony (oil on copper) by Teniers, David the Younger (1610-90); (add.info.: By David Teniers the Younger).

An engraving depicting Old Father Time with his scythe and hourglass, 19th century
5311222 An engraving depicting Old Father Time with his scythe and hourglass, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1891); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Representation of the Degrees of Man's Age' Engraving 1820 Civica raccolta delle stampe Bertarelli, Milan
BEN5478758 Representation of the Degrees of Man's Age' Engraving 1820 Civica raccolta delle stampe Bertarelli, Milan; Photo © Raffaello Bencini.

The emblem of the grotesque in the Renaissance (17th century) Italy: The old man between Death and Volupte
JAB4119819 The emblem of the grotesque in the Renaissance (17th century) Italy: The old man between Death and Volupte. Engraving by Cesare Reverdino. 1895; Photo ©Jaime Abecasis.

Cupid relinquishes his bow and arrows and deposits them with
5893183 Cupid relinquishes his bow and arrows and deposits them with the; (add.info.: Cupid relinquishes his bow and arrows and deposits them with the British standard)

A carder using heated combs to remove the wool fibres that will be spun. Wool comber using heated wool combs to pull a
FLO4577720 A carder using heated combs to remove the wool fibres that will be spun. Wool comber using heated wool combs to pull a fine sliver of wool to be spun into yarn

Vanite: still life with skull, shell, score, hourglass, candle and string instrument
JEB4906371 Vanite: still life with skull, shell, score, hourglass, candle and string instrument. Painting by Simon Fox of Saint Andre (1613-1677) c.1650 (oil on canvas); Palais de Longchamp

Eveque. Quietly resides in his fate, the eveque is led by death, while in the background
FLO4675888 Eveque. Quietly resides in his fate, the eveque is led by death, while in the background, the loss of the good shepherd is symbolically plunged by several shepherds in the midst of their

The lawyer. The wealthy client puts a tax in the hands of the dishonest lawyer
FLO4675708 The lawyer. The wealthy client puts a tax in the hands of the dishonest lawyer. Death also contributes, but reminds him that the hourglass has passed away

The Noble. The Noble, the high sword, tries in vain to free himself from the embrace of death
FLO4675681 The Noble. The Noble, the high sword, tries in vain to free himself from the embrace of death. The hourglass is on his coffin

The image shows a painting representing an alpinist, collocated on the top of a mountain
3568345 The image shows a painting representing an alpinist, collocated on the top of a mountain and flanked by the allegory of the death

Scenes of Witchcraft: Evening, c. 1645-49 (oil on canvas)
XOS5879301 Scenes of Witchcraft: Evening, c. 1645-49 (oil on canvas) by Rosa, Salvator (1615-73); Cleveland Museum of Art, OH, USA; (add.info.: Painting by Salvator Rosa At dusk)

Vanitas with death and a maiden, 1909 (engraving)
955324 Vanitas with death and a maiden, 1909 (engraving); Private Collection; (add.info.: Vanitas with death and a maiden, after Jacob De Gheyn)

An engraving depicting an hourglass, 19th century
5310948 An engraving depicting an hourglass, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1873); Universal History Archive/UIG.

The father of Time ringing the bells to announce the arrival of Father Noel's sleigh, firing by reindeer
NWI4881378 The father of Time ringing the bells to announce the arrival of Father Noel's sleigh, firing by reindeer, circa 1870

The canon. Death holds his hourglass before him when he enters the cathedral
FLO4675891 The canon. Death holds his hourglass before him when he enters the cathedral. They are followed by a nobleman with a falcon on his fist, his jester or crazy, and a little boy

The nun. This is a mixture of galantry and religion. The nun admitted her lover to her apartment
FLO4675645 The nun. This is a mixture of galantry and religion. The nun admitted her lover to her apartment. She is on her knees before an altar

The bride. She receives from a steward the magnificent dress and ornaments with which she is about to equip herself
FLO4675628 The bride. She receives from a steward the magnificent dress and ornaments with which she is about to equip herself

The dangers of lust and illicit love. 16th century (after symbolic woodcut by Peter Flotner)
533550 The dangers of lust and illicit love. 16th century (after symbolic woodcut by Peter Flotner); (add.info.: Alcohol is aiding seduction in center)

Title page with calligraphy and skulls and crossbones
5893179 Title page with calligraphy and skulls and crossbones.; (add.info.: Title page with calligraphy and border of figures with skulls and crossbones, hourglasses and wings)

Diogene, 1867_11_30 - Illustration by Henri Meyer (1844-1899): Press/Media, Literature, Hourglass - Time (Allegory de)
ICA4896713 Diogene, 1867_11_30 - Illustration by Henri Meyer (1844-1899): Press/Media, Literature, Hourglass - Time (Allegory de), Journalist Journalism

Powder box (powder box) detail of Chronos and a love holding an hourglass - Fabrique Moustiers Olerys Laugier - Joseph
JEB4904542 Powder box (powder box) detail of Chronos and a love holding an hourglass - Fabrique Moustiers Olerys Laugier - Joseph Olerys (1697-1749) and Jean Baptiste Laugier (18th century)

S: The woman mad of her body (Scortum) - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving)
DUV4221981 S: The woman mad of her body (Scortum) - The Alphabet of Death, c.1856 (engraving); 8x23 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Drawing by H)

The rich man. A demon blows corruption in the ear of a magistrate, who turned his back on a poor man
FLO4675702 The rich man. A demon blows corruption in the ear of a magistrate, who turned his back on a poor man, while he is in intimate conversation with another person

The judge. The judge has to decide a dispute between a rich man and a poor man
FLO4675659 The judge. The judge has to decide a dispute between a rich man and a poor man. From the first, he's about to receive a bribe. Death behind him tears off his bureaucrat dress

How mighty little is a minute (colour litho)
8656460 How mighty little is a minute (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: How mighty little is a minute. And yet how precious much is in it)

Story of Sand: The Sand or Hour-Glass (colour litho)
8659612 Story of Sand: The Sand or Hour-Glass (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Sand or Hour-Glass)

16th century hourglass: 19th century engraving
530326 16th century hourglass: 19th century engraving; Universal History Archive/UIG.

Mausolee of Count Maurice of Saxony (1696 -1750), marechal of France, detail of the Death Jean Baptiste Pigalle
JEB4961651 Mausolee of Count Maurice of Saxony (1696 -1750), marechal of France, detail of the Death Jean Baptiste Pigalle (1714-1785) 1771-1776. Church of St

St. Matthew (oil on panel)
WLT206726 St. Matthew (oil on panel) by Wtewael or Utewael, Joachim (c.1566-1638); 78.7x62 cm; Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, USA; Dutch, out of copyright

Infinity of time
The girl is on the meadow of filled with a street clock.. Iryna Kuznetsova (Iridi)

John Milton & Galileo Galilei, 19th century (engraving)
5311771 John Milton & Galileo Galilei, 19th century (engraving) by Hart, Solomon Alexander (1806-81); (add.info.: Illustration showing John Milton (9th December 1608 - 8th November 1674)

The Temptation of Saint Anthony, 17th Century (Oil on canvas)
7393535 The Temptation of Saint Anthony, 17th Century (Oil on canvas) by Heemskerk, Egbert van the Elder (1634/5-1704); 54 x 40, 6 cm; Fondation Glenat, Grenoble, France; © Fonds Glenat

Holy family and saint John the baptist, 16th century (oil on wood)
7129523 Holy family and saint John the baptist, 16th century (oil on wood) by Venusti, Marcello (c.1512-79); Palazzo Corsini, Gallerie Nazionali Barberini Corsini, Rome

Stereoscopic card depicting a woman being laced into a corset, published by the American Stereoscopic Company
473253 Stereoscopic card depicting a woman being laced into a corset, published by the American Stereoscopic Company, 1903 (sepia photo) (see also 473254) by Young

Stereoscopic card depicting a woman being laced into a corset, published by the American Stereoscopic Company
473254 Stereoscopic card depicting a woman being laced into a corset, published by the American Stereoscopic Company, 1903 (sepia photo) (see also 473253) by Young

Saint Dominic penitent. 1621 (oil on canvas)
AIS5332863 Saint Dominic penitent. 1621 (oil on canvas) by Florin, Alonso (fl.1621); (add.info.: FLORIN, Alonso (17th century) Toledo. Holy Cross Museum); Photo © Rotger/AIC

Vanity portrait of the painter (oil on canvas)
471456 Vanity portrait of the painter (oil on canvas) by Lint, Peter van (1609-90); 85x64 cm; Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp, Belgium; © Art in Flanders

Trompe l'oeil: Letter rack with an hourglass, a razor and scissors, 1664 (oil on canvas)
LAF470827 Trompe l'oeil: Letter rack with an hourglass, a razor and scissors, 1664 (oil on canvas) by Gysbrechts, Cornelis Norbertus (1630-1683); 101.9x83.4 cm; Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Ghent

Sorcerer killing a person by burning a small figurine of them (engraving)
6029330 Sorcerer killing a person by burning a small figurine of them (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Knight, Death, and the Devil, 1513 (engraving)
4071439 Knight, Death, and the Devil, 1513 (engraving) by Durer or Duerer, Albrecht (1471-1528); 24.6x18.8 cm; Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (add.info.: The Christian knight)

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"Capturing the Essence of Time: The Symbolism of the Sandglass" In the realm of art, the sandglass has long served as a powerful symbol, evoking contemplation on the fleeting nature of life and the relentless passage of time. From Vanitas Still Life with a Tulip to The Temptation of Saint Anthony, this timeless instrument has made its mark across various masterpieces. One such artwork is Vanitas (oil on canvas), where an hour-glass stands alongside other symbolic elements like skulls and wilting flowers. This composition reminds us that our mortal existence is ephemeral, urging us to reflect upon our own mortality. The concept of infinity intertwines with time in John Milton & Galileo Galilei's 19th-century engraving. As these great minds pondered celestial bodies and their eternal motion, they too recognized that even in vastness lies an infinite cycle governed by time. Religious imagery also incorporates sandglasses into its narrative. St. Matthew's oil painting portrays him holding an hour-glass while contemplating his divine calling—a reminder that every moment counts when fulfilling one's purpose. Francisco Quevedo's House of Fools Love illustrates how love itself can be transient through a captivating portrayal featuring a sandglass amidst scenes depicting folly and heartache. It serves as a cautionary tale about love's temporal nature. Beyond paintings, photography also captures society's fascination with timekeeping devices. A sepia-toned photograph from 1903 showcases women being laced into corsets while an hour-glass sits nearby—an emblematic representation revealing societal expectations imposed upon women during that era. Even self-portraits have not escaped the allure of incorporating sandglasses as symbols within them. Vanity portrait painters skillfully depict themselves clutching or gazing at hour-glasses—acknowledging their own transience as artists despite capturing immortality on canvas. Lastly, religious devotion finds expression in Saint Dominic penitent's oil painting.