The Toledo Museum of Art presents the first monographic exhibition of the Dutch flower still life painter Rachel Ruysch (1664–1750). At a time when women’s access to careers as professional artists was severely limited, Ruysch became highly successful and widely celebrated. Her biography is remarkable and well-documented. She was the daughter of the renowned professor of anatomy and botany Frederik Ruysch, who apprenticed her to one of the premier flower still life painters of the day. She later married a painter, had eleven children, became the first female member of the artist’s guild in The Hague and court artist to one of the most important German nobles. She was among the highest-paid artists of her time, but also won the lottery (twice!), and continued to paint until she was 83 years of age. Despite the great success she experienced during her lifetime, Ruysch has never received the attention she deserves. The Toledo Museum of Art’s exhibition will bring together her most important works from European and American public and private collections, including works that have never been exhibited publicly as well as new discoveries. We invite you to discover Rachel Ruysch’s masterful brushwork, her illusionistic depictions of the natural world, the astonishing botanical diversity and teeming insect and animal life in her paintings, and how her works reflect the intersections between painting, nature, and science.
CODART played an important role in the genesis of the exhibition. The idea of a show on Ruysch was first presented at the CODART congress’ Speakers Corner in Berlin, in 2018, and was met with much interest. This laid the groundwork for the development of a retrospective of the artist and partnerships with the MFA, Boston, and the Alte Pinakothek, Munich, were formed to jointly organize an international, interdisciplinary exhibition to explore the fascinating life and work of this eminent artist. The Toledo Museum of Art is particularly suited to host this exhibition. It was the first museum in North America to acquire a work by Ruysch, which is part of the CODART Canon.
Munich, Alte Pinakothek: 26 November 2024 – 16 March 2025
Boston, Museum of Fine Arts: 23 August – 7 December 2025