Still life is about more than just the objects in front of you – composition and lighting do the heavy lifting, accounting for about 70 per cent of the impact. The rest is observation and execution.

Simon Luttichuys A still life with a pewter jug on its side, a glass of ale, a salt cellar, a bread roll and other objects on a table draped in a dark green cloth, 1649 90.5 x 64.1 cm. (35.6 x 25.2 in ...

Hendrick Andriessen A vanitas still life with a skull, a broken Roemer, a rose, an hour glass, a nautulus shell, a pocket watch and other objects, all on a draped table 49.4 x 70.2 cm. (19.4 x 27.6 in ...