FLOWERS AND NATURE

Flowers and Nature: Netherlandish Flower Painting of Four Centuries by Sam Segal is a richly illustrated study of one of the most distinctive traditions in Dutch and Flemish art: the flower still life. Spanning four centuries, the book explores the development of flower painting from the early masters of the seventeenth century through to artists of the modern period. Segal presents a remarkable selection of flower-piece paintings, including works by artists such as Jan Brueghel the Elder, Jan Brueghel the Younger, Ambrosius Bosschaert, Jan Davidsz. de Heem, Rachel Ruysch and Jan van Huysum. The paintings demonstrate the extraordinary precision, richness of colour and botanical detail that became characteristic of Netherlandish flower painting. The book goes beyond simply reproducing beautiful works of art. Segal examines the historical development of the genre and discusses the symbolism, composition and artistic conventions associated with flower still lifes. The changing relationship between flowers, insects, fruit, landscape and decorative objects provides an insight into both the artistic and cultural significance of these paintings. An additional aspect of the publication is its international perspective. The book includes flower-piece paintings that were presented in exhibitions in Osaka, Tokyo and Sydney, highlighting the continuing international appreciation of Dutch and Flemish flower painting. With 302 pages and an extensive selection of colour and black-and-white illustrations, Flowers and Nature is an impressive reference work for anyone interested in Dutch art, botanical imagery, still-life painting and European art history. It is particularly attractive to collectors and enthusiasts of richly illustrated art books.