Magical Still Lifes

How's this for the ultimate still life, complete with crumpled 3D label, one of those tricks some of the old masters played on the eye to show how good they were? Yes, the label is part of the painting. It's by an unknown German master: Vanitas Still Life with Skull, Wax Jack and Pocket Sundial (ca 1620), one of more than 90 masterpieces assembled at the Kunstmuseum Basel for a major exhibition The Magic of Things: Still Life Painting 1500-1800. Click the title link to view a lustful fellow offering a cook a silver coin, and it's not her chicken he's after! The exhibition opened today and continues until 4 January 2009. If you're likely to be in Basel, CLICK for the Kunstmuseum Basel website.