Simply, Still Life Trivia Quiz

Answer: A painting of inanimate objects

A "Still Life" painting is a collection of one or more every day objects, and according to the Tate Museum Glossary, the subject of a Still Life painting can be "anything that does not move or is dead". Edouard Manet's painting titled, "Painting of a Dead Fish" certainly would qualify as a Still Life of an inanimate object.

Many other Still Life paintings are of lovelier inanimate objects such as flowers and fruit. Uh-Oh! I forgot, there may be some who find more beauty and meaning in a painting of a dead fish. Actually Manet's painting is quite interesting.

Its color, composition, and depth contribute to its beauty (in this quiz maker's eye).

Answer: The Dutch Reformed Church

The Dutch Reformed Church in Holland aided the emerging popularity of "Still Life Art". In the mid-seventeenth century many of the reformed churches rejected the large and ornate religous paintings of the past; thus, in order to make a living, many artists changed their genre to "Still Life" painting.

A rising middle class was also instrumental in establishing this art form. Many affluent citizens of Holland considered owning a Still Life painting prestigious. The Dutch artist Jan Van Huysum's (1682-1749) celebrated painting, "Still Life: a Vase of Flowers", is one example of their early works.

Answer: History

The paintings of History, were ranked first, Portraiture, second, Landscape third, with Still Life Art fourth. Many Art Academies of European countries such as the Academy of Art in Rome and the Royal Academy of Art in Britain ranked the art forms of paintings. Andre Felibien was the Court Historian to Louis XIV of France and an esteemed annalist of art and architecture. As Secretary of the French Academy of Art in 1667, he declared History as first and foremost of the art forms.

Answer: Cuneiform

Cuneiform is the ancient form of Sumerian writing. An early example of one form of Still Life Art is the Table Setting (Banquet) form of painting. One example of Table Setting (Banquet,) Still Life Art is that of the Dutch artist Abraham van Beyeren's 1667 painting, "Banquet Still Life". Another example is the artist Adriaen van Utrecht's Still Life painting, of a banquet style work titled: "Großes Stillleben mit Hund und Katze". The English translation of van Utrect's work is "'Large still life with cat and dog'.

Answer: One artist used the "to fool the eye" technique

Picasso's "Still Life with a Guitar" is a composite painting style. William M. Harnett's Still Life titled, "Violin (the old violin)", differs from Picasso's painting of a guitar, as Harnett used the technique known as Trompe-l'oeil, which basically is "to fool the eye". Harnett's painting when viewed looks as though the violin was hung over the painting. It is said that when it was first displayed some gallery visitors tried to remove the violin from the painting. To some it may seem as if you could pick up the violin, tuck it under your chin, and stroll away playing on it.

Answer: Pompeii

In the first century, A.D., a mural painting, which may be considered a part of the early beginnings of Still Life Art, was discovered in Pompeii. This mural is composed of three major pieces. Each of the three pieces in its composition have fruit in them. One container is a large transparent bowl, another a tilted vase, and the third, a mug-like cup.

This mural is also considered to be in "Trompe l'oeil" style. Another older record of what has been assessed as a development of Still Life Art can be found on the decorations of Egyptian tombs.

These tombs had art work of fruits and vegetables on them. It was an Egyptian belief that in the after-life, these foods would feed the souls of the deceased.

Answer: Dutch

"Still Life" is derived from the Dutch word, "Stilleven". Prior to the strong movement in Holland for Still Life Art, a painting of a piece of fruit was simply called, "Fruit". In France, the words to describe "Still Art" are "Nature Morte". In Spanish Art it is, "Bodegón". In Italian, it is "Arte Natura morta".

Answer: A skull

Symbolic Still Life painting has a division known as "Vanitas". In this type of Still Life paintings, a skull is a frequently painted object. "Vanitas" symbols such as the skull were painted amid the flowers, fruits, and other composed objects to stress the shortness of life, (death), the folly of power and status, and the amassing of material goods.

This kind of art was popular in mid-seventeenth century Netherlands, particularly with the followers of John Calvin. Jan Vermeulen of Haarlem, Netherlands, who painted the composition titled "Vanitas" Still Life" includes a skull, money bags and an hour glass as well as the traditional composition of fruits and flowers.

Answer: To make a moral point

Many of the objects in Still Life paintings may demonstrate that the artist chooses an object so that a moral point can be reflected. The artist may choose an object that can make a point because the object has a symbolic meaning. Paintings of flowers have been given various meanings, one of which is the flower's symbol. Examples of flower symbols are the lily which may represent purity, the sunflower which may signify devotion, and the rose which may be a symbol for love. Paintings of historical events are not classified as Still Life Art.

Answer: Digital Photography

While the incorrect options can be used as the subject of a Still Life, they are not used to produce one.

With the invention of the digital camera, digital photography has become a new medium for art, especially still life. The techniques involve knowledge of shutter speed, digital exposure, lighting and chiaroscuro, composition, and image stacking to name a few. The creative eye of the photographer is the essential ingredient. Cecilia Gilabert, a Spanish digital photographer, has produced "Still Life on After Lunch" which, for me, gives new meaning to 'leftovers'. Christiane Spatt, Gary Lacoma and John Baldessari are several renowned Still Life digital photographers.