Vanitas Still Life of a Skull and Bones. Atrributed to a follower of Pieter Claesz (1597–1660) This Dutch Vanitas still life depicts the underside of a human skull resting among scattered bones. Painted in the tradition of Pieter Claesz, the stark composition serves as a memento mori, reflecting on mortality and the fleeting nature of life. The restrained palette and careful study of the bones give the work a quiet yet haunting presence.