Jacobus Plasschaert

Jacobus Plasschaert or Jacob Plasschaert, spelling variation of name Plasgaert (c. 1689 – 21 November 1765 in Bruges) was a Flemish painter and teacher. He is known for his trompe-l'œil still lifes and vanitas still lifes. He was active in Bruges.

Life Jacobus Plasschaert was born around 1689 in an unknown location. When he registered with the guild of painters of Bruges on 6 April 1739, he had to pay ten pounds as a non-citizen of Bruges. The fact that he was a native from a place other than Bruges is also mentioned in another document. His year of birth has been deduced from his death notice in the death registers of St Anne's parish in Bruges. It states that when he died on 21 November 1765, he had reached the age of 76.

Some of his works clearly have a vanitas meaning. The genre of vanitas still lifes offers a reflection on the meaninglessness of earthly life and the transient nature of earthly goods and endeavors. This meaning is conveyed in these still lifes through the use of stock symbols, which reference the transience of things and, in particular, the futility of earthly wealth: a skull, soap bubbles, candles, empty glasses, wilting flowers, insects, smoke, watches, mirrors, books, hourglasses and musical instruments, various expensive or exclusive objects such as jewellery and rare shells. In the Trompe-l'œil still life with a skull the vanitas meaning is expressed by the presence of the skull and the words memento mori (Latin 'remember that you [have to] die') below it. The portrait of King Charles I of England, who fell from power and was executed, in the Trompe-l'œil painting with an engraved portrait of King Charles I is an often used symbol in vanitas paintings to express the precariousness of worldly status and position.