I have studied some Dutch Golden Age painters in the past, and Rachel Ruysch (1664-1750) was one of my favourite painters. She painted very well, and had ten children! It bemuses me how one can paint so exquisitely and have ten children (therefore a minimum of ten pregnancies). One may assume that she died a tragic and premature death, but she did not. Her dated works establish that she painted from the age of 15 until she was 83. When it came to her household, though, she had help, because she could afford it.
Underdrawing with aquarelle by Paula Kuitenbrouwer
I like to point out that Dutch floral paintings in the Golden Age are an illusion. When we buy lush bouquets at the supermarket, we have little to no knowledge about the plants; we don’t know when they bloom and where they come from. We care a little about seasonable vegetables and fruits, but we don’t know where flowers come from. Golden Age floral painters studied flowers by making meticulous sketches and writing down which colours they needed.
Rachel Ruysch
Upon designing a large floral bouquet, they needed to check their notebooks and sketchbooks. This way, they put together flowers that do not bloom at the same time, and they also added seasonal butterflies or insects, therefore showing spring, summer, and autumn in one painting. Nowadays it is easy to consult a book or check a photo, and then put together flowers from all over the world, flowers that never bloom together at the same time. The difference between the Golden Age and now is that we fly in vegetables, fruits, and flowers, and that isn’t good for our carbon footprint. Golden Age painters created prosperous bouquets, not with the help of cargo trucks, cool cells, or air-planes, but with their own notes and sketches.
Paula Kuitenbrouwer
May I kindly ask, have you appreciate this blog post and are you enjoy my website? Perhaps you like to support it? Here are two Tulip cards by Paula Kuitenbrouwer inspired by Dutch Golden Age Floral Artists.
Two (2) Beautiful and Elegant Tulip Art Cards by Paula Kuitenbrouwer
Two double folded and professionally printed art cards that come with matching (white) envelopes). A very elegant card with enough space for a message. Free shipping.
€18.00
- The Artist’s Life
- Swedish Death Cleaning or Döstädning & Dementia
- Swedish Death Cleaning Part 3.
- Swedish Death Cleaning Part 2.
- Self Portrait