Timeless Beauty: A History of Still Life

A concise introduction to the matchless still life collection of the Dresden Gemäldegalerie

Published in conjunction with the eponymous exhibition at the Old Meister Gallery (Gemäldegalerie) in Dresden, this richly illustrated book presents a selection of stunning still life paintings. The enchanted objects depicted in still lifes bear witness to great wealth and hedonism, but they also reflect the worldly curiosity of the Enlightenment and the religious reverence of the Baroque era. Along with individual works from the Gemäldegalerie’s world-class collection, this volume examines the many facets of the genre of still life, as well as its role in Dutch and Flemish painting traditions. What function did still lifes serve, what allegories and symbols were hidden in their coded messages? More than 70 works from the Dresden collection by painters such as Cornelis de Heem, Abraham Mignon, Rachel Ruysch and Frans Snyders provide a unique insight into the heyday of this magical genre.