Still-life paintings appeal to many art lovers. These skillfully painted tableaux are rich with meanings and tradition. The objects captured range from the commonplace ù flowers, fruit, vegetables ù to the desirable, such as musical instruments and books. In this book Erika Langmuir examines the fascination of still life, and what distinguishes it from other categories of painting. She discusses its evolution from the trompe l\'oeil wall paintings of ancient Rome, through its revival in the age of Caravaggio and Velßzquez, and again in the works of CTzanne and Picasso.