Rachel Ruysch (Dutch, 1664–1750), "Still Life of Exotic Flowers on a Marble Ledge" (about 1735), oil on canvas.
#painting #stilllife #naturalist #art
During her lifetime, Ruysch dominated the floral still-life market with ambitious, unusual, and exquisite arrangements.
This late work is her most botanically diverse still life, featuring 36 identifiable plant species sourced from across the globe (most of her contemporaries rarely depicted more than 10!).
At first glance, the white and purple devil’s trumpets and pineapple at center shimmer with beauty. But beneath this dazzling display, a quiet unease emerges. A prickly cactus looms in the foreground. Underneath the perfume of the sweet-smelling Oleander lies the foul stench of the carrion flower shown at the lower left. By blurring the boundary between beauty and decay, Ruysch subtly challenged the viewer to reflect on the darker forces of nature.
discussion source: instagram[dot]com/p/DPpXjHsiNu1/
#painting #stilllife #naturalist #art
During her lifetime, Ruysch dominated the floral still-life market with ambitious, unusual, and exquisite arrangements.
This late work is her most botanically diverse still life, featuring 36 identifiable plant species sourced from across the globe (most of her contemporaries rarely depicted more than 10!).
At first glance, the white and purple devil’s trumpets and pineapple at center shimmer with beauty. But beneath this dazzling display, a quiet unease emerges. A prickly cactus looms in the foreground. Underneath the perfume of the sweet-smelling Oleander lies the foul stench of the carrion flower shown at the lower left. By blurring the boundary between beauty and decay, Ruysch subtly challenged the viewer to reflect on the darker forces of nature.
discussion source: instagram[dot]com/p/DPpXjHsiNu1/