Forever Flowers: Mastery and Meaning of Flower Paintings in the Low Countries, 1600-1700

Exhibition at the Kadriorg Art Museum, Tallinn, 30 August 2025 – 25 January 2026

In the 16th and 17th centuries, flowers in art had a much greater significance than mere decoration. They occupied a central place in all genres, from large altarpieces to intimate miniature portraits. Behind the flowers lay stories of exploration, global trade, power struggles, moral choices and religious beliefs.

This exhibition catalogue offers a comprehensive overview of Dutch and Flemish floral art in the 17th century. It features bouquets by renowned masters, including Jan Brueghel the Elder, Clara Peeters, Anna Maria Janssens, Jan Davidszoon de Heem and David Teniers the Younger.

Using the latest modern analysis and imaging technologies, as well as reconstructions of historical techniques, the book delves into the deepest layers of the artists' works, revealing features that have been invisible for nearly four hundred years.