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In week one, instructor Tina Orsolic Dalessio will take you through the history of the still-life painting genre. You will explore the hidden messages and symbolism behind still-life objects. Then, Tina will teach you the rules of pictorial composition. You will learn several standard composition designs such as triangle, L shape, steelyard, etc.
Throughout this course, you’ll have access to the NMA community for feedback and critiques to improve your work as you progress.
You do not need to purchase specific materials to take this course.
We have included a materials list as recommendation only.
If you cannot find a specific material in your area, use the closest equivalent available to you.
Doing so will allow you to have the best possible learning outcome from this course.
For help with finding alternative materials, including how to take this course with digital tools,
please join our community Discord.
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Reference Images (79)
Tomb of Menna.
House of Julia Felix, Still-Life Wine and Fruit.
Hours of Catherine of Cleves
Albrecht Dürer, Hare, 1502.
Albrecht Dürer, The Large Piece of Turf, 1503.
Jacopo de Barbari, Study of a Dead Grey Partridge, 1504.
Hans Holbein the Younger, Erasmus, 1523.
Hans Holbein the Younger, A Lady with a Squirrel and a Starling, 1526.
Hans Holbein the Younger, The Merchant Georg Gisze, 1532.
Hans Holbein the Younger, The Ambassadors, 1533.
Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder, Flower Still-Life, 1614.
Jan van Huysum, Vase of Flowers, 1722.
Osaias Beert the Elder, Flowers in a Serpentine Vase, 1615.
Margareta Haverman, A Vase of Flowers, 1716.
Balthasar van der Ast, Fruit Still-Life with Shells and Tulip, 1620.
Pieter Claesz, Vanitas Still Life, 1630.
Clara Peeters, Still-Life with Cheeses, Artichoke, and Cherries, 1623.
Willem Claesz Heda, Banquet Piece with Mince Pie, 1635.
Willem Kalf, Still-Life with a Late Ming Ginger Jar, 1669.
Juriaen van Streeck, Still-Life with Moor and Porcelain Vessels, 1670.
Caravaggio, Basket of Fruit, 1599.
Giovanni Battista Ruoppolo, Still-Life of Fruit and a Shell.
Giuseppe Recco, Still-Life with Fish, 1650.
Evaristo Baschenis, Strumenti musicali, 1670.
Juan Sánchez Cotán, Still-Life with Game Fowl, Vegetables and Fruits, 1602.
Francisco de Zurbarán, Still-Life with Lemons, Oranges and a Rose, 1633.
Luis Melendez, Still-Life with Salmon, Lemon and Three Vessels, 1772.
Francisco de Goya y Lucientes, Plucked Turkey, 1828.
Jean Siméon Chardin, Still-Life with Jar of Olives, 1760.
Henri Fantin-Latour, Roses, 1883.
Henri Fantin-Latour, Summer Flowers, 1880.
Victoria Dubourg, Vase of Flowers.
Édouard Manet, The Brioche, 1870.
Édouard Manet, Still-Life with Flowers Fan and Pearls, 1860.
Claude Monet, Still-Life with Apples and Grapes, 1880.
Claude Monet, Still-Life with Melon, 1866.
Claude Monet, Still-Life with Flowers and Fruit, 1869.
Paul Cézanne, The Basket of Apples, 1895.
Paul Cézanne, Still-Life with Plaster Cupid, 1895.
Paul Cézanne, Still-Life with Skull, 1898.
Vincent van Gogh, Sunflowers, 1888.
Raphaelle Peale, Melons and Morning Glories, 1813.
Raphaelle Peale, Still-Life with Cake, 1818.
Frank Weston Benson, Still-Life, 1926.
William Merritt Chase, Fish and Still-Life, 1908.
Matisse, Still-Life with Geraniums, 1910.
Andre Derain, Still-Life with a Skull, 1912.
Georges Braque, Violin and Candlestick, 1910.
Georges Braque, Still-Life with a Metronome, 1909-10.
Pablo Picasso, Still-Life with Chair Caning, 1912.
Giorgio Morandi, Still-Life Natura Morta, 1956.
Harnett, A Smoke Backstage, 1877.
John Frederick Peto, Fish House Door, 1905.
Georgia O'Keeffe, Pineapple Bud, 1939.
Roy Lichtenstein, Still-Life with Palette, 1972.
Roy Lichtenstein, Still-Life with Goldfish, 1974.
Leonardo da Vinci, Perspective Study of the Adoration of the Magi, 1481.
Isaac Levitan, Village Winter, 1888.
Bronzino, Portrait of a Young Man, 1540.
Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin, The Silver Tureen, 1728-1730.
Emil Carlsen, Still-Life, Roses, 1885.
Claude Monet, Stacks of Wheat, 1890.
George Fredric Watts, Endymion, 1872.
Titian, Annunciation, 1559-1564.
Caravaggio, Crucifixion of Saint Peter, 1600.
Edward Seago, Norfolk River.
Jan Davidsz. de Heem, A Richly Laid Table with Parrots, c. 1650.
Jan Davidsz. de Heem, A Table of Desserts, 1640.
Jan Davidsz. de Heem, Still-Life with Fruit, Flowers, Glasses and Lobster, 1660s.
Jan Davidsz. de Heem, Vanitas Still-Life with Books, a Globe, a Skull, a Violin and a Fan, circa 1650.
Jan Davidsz. de Heem, Glass Vase with Flowers on a Stone Ledge, 1655.
Willem Claesz. Heda, Breakfast with a Crab, 1648.
Willem Claesz. Heda, Still-Life with a Gilt Cup, 1635.
Willem Claesz. Heda, Still-Life with Tazza, Tobacco and Peeled Lemon, 1633.
Willem Claesz. Heda, Still-Life with Pie, Silver Ewer and Crab, 1658.
Anne Vallayer-Coster, Still-Life with Mackerel, 1787.
Balthasar van der Ast, Sea Shells, 1630-1650.
Balthasar van der Ast, Still-Life of Fruit, 1623.
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1. Instructor Intro
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2. Course Overview
3m 2s -
3. Learning Recommendation
24s -
4. Definition, Symbolism, and History of Still-life Painting
21m 24s -
5. History of Still-life Painting Continued
11m 34s -
6. Rules of Pictorial Composition
21m 6s -
7. How to Apply the Lessons Learned to Your Still-Life
8m 33s -
8. Assignment
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