Still life painting showing a skull, urn, coins and book

Still-life paintings in the Royal Collection

The Royal Collection contains many examples of still-life painting

SIR PETER PAUL RUBENS (SIEGEN 1577 - ANTWERP 1640) & FRANS SNYDERS (ANTWERP 1579 - ANTWERP 1657)

Pythagoras Advocating Vegetarianism

c.1628-30

RCIN 403500

This painting is the result of a collaboration between Rubens, who painted the figures, and Frans Snyders, who painted the produce. In this case Snyders painted the fruit and vegetables first and then passed the canvas over to Rubens who was careful not to paint over any of his friend’s work.


    Royal Collection Trust is a charity caring for the Royal Collection, one of the world’s great art collections. Income from your visit helps us to conserve and share the Collection so that it can be enjoyed by everyone, wherever they are.