From TOLEDO MUSEUM OF ART
“Rachel Ruysch: Nature into Art,” the first ever major exhibition of Ruysch’s art, will be on view April 12-July 27 at the Toledo Museum of Art. Featuring more than 100 works—including paintings, botanical books and drawings, and plant and animal specimens, the exhibition explores Ruysch’s extraordinary career and the intersection of art, science, and natural history.
“Renowned for her exquisite still-life paintings, Ruysch achieved exceptional fame in the 17th and 18th centuries, garnering admiration for her masterful technique and her ability to intertwine the beauty of nature with scientific observation,” said Robert Schindler, William Hutton Curator of European Art at TMA and the curator of the Toledo exhibition of “Rachel Ruysch: Nature into Art.”
Schindler continued, “Despite her exceptional career, Ruysch’s contributions to art history have been underexplored. Through this exhibition, we aim to shine a spotlight on her remarkable achievements and trace her illustrious career while exploring the rich connections in her work between art and science during the Scientific Revolution.”
Highlights of the exhibition include:
- Several important Ruysch paintings from major international collections that have rarely or never been on public view.
- A reunion of “Flower Still Life” (c.1716–1720), TMA’s Ruysch masterpiece, and its long-separated pendant, “Still Life with Fruit, Bird’s Nest and Insects” (1716), from Dudmaston Hall in England.
- Three portraits of Ruysch, including a family portrait with her husband and youngest son and a recently discovered portrait of the artist in her studio.
- Works by Ruysch’s sister Anna, also a talented flower painter who experienced a far shorter career than Ruysch.
“This exhibition not only celebrates Rachel Ruysch’s stunning artistry but also reflects the Toledo Museum of Art’s ongoing commitment to broadening the narrative of art history,” said Adam Levine, TMA’s Edward Drummond and Florence Scott Libbey Director, President, and CEO. “Ruysch’s legacy as a trailblazer and innovator is one that resonates deeply today, and we are honored to share her work with our visitors.”
Visitor Information
“Rachel Ruysch: Nature into Art” will be on view from April 12 to July 27 in the Levis Gallery in the Edward B Green Beaux-Arts Building on the campus of TMA. Tickets to the exhibition are $10 per visitor and free for TMA members. General admission to the museum and parking are free to all visitors.
The visitor’s experience with the exhibition is enhanced with interactive and educational elements including an audio guide, an audio description tour, a digital species map, tactile and scent features, a printed exhibition guide, and a fully illustrated catalogue available for purchase.
“Rachel Ruysch: Nature into Art” is organized by the Toledo Museum of Art in conjunction with the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. The Toledo Musuem of Art’s design partner for this exhibition is Selldorf Architects.
