Vanitas Trompe-l’oeil Letter-rack, with Death Notices

Dutch School. Oil painting on panel, Vanitas Trompe-l’oeil Letter-rack with Death Notices, by an artist working in the manner of Edwaert Collier (Breda c.1640 - Leyden c.1707), circa 1660. A number of papers and books are shown secured behind a tape apparently pinned across the surface of the picture, producing the trompe-l'eoil effect of a letter-rack. To the left is a piece of paper announcing the burial of a Hennery Hagger, and behind this is another notice and a grey-blue-covered book. In the centre is another book with a grey-blue cover, which, like that of its companion, is folded back to reveal part of the text on the frontispiece. A quill is tucked behind this book. To the right is a yellow-brown-covered book or journal, which is closed, in front of which are tucked two further notices, one of which is apparently hooked over the tape. Dyrham, Gloucestershire (Accredited Museum)