Tim, your truth in nature and Marvin's deception... from a just learning student I think they both make sense. But only when the compostition is done correctly and can pull it off which I think your saddle still life does.
As to
I heard the Diva was a huge failure and the box office closed by the end of the week. The said soprano ended up some where in Russia playing to half houses in the back alleys of Moscow - all because she never learned any values. Can you imagine?