Why did Johannes Goedaert paint a broken and empty nautilus shell beside the vase in his Flowers in a Wan-li Vase with Blue-Tit?

Johannes Goedaert included the broken and empty nautilus shell in his painting "Flowers in a Wan-li Vase with Blue-Tit" to symbolize the passage of time and the transient nature of beauty and life. The shell serves as a contrast to the vibrant flowers, emphasizing themes of decay and mortality alongside the vividness of nature. It enhances the composition by adding an element of stillness and reflection, prompting viewers to consider the impermanence of existence.