Forever Flowers: Mastery and Meaning of Flower Paintings in the Low Countries

• Fresh Perspective on Flemish Flower Still Lifes: Explores the artistry of flower paintings from the early modern period (1600-1700) through eight exquisite works from The Phoebus Foundation
• Unique Authorial Expertise: Written by Sven Van Dorst, a restorer and conservation expert, offering a rare combination of technical and artistic insight
• Material-Technical Research: Delves into the craftsmanship and knowledge behind the creation of these masterpieces through hands-on experiments and analysis
• Rich, Intriguing Stories: Illuminates the religious symbolism of flowers, the exotic species depicted, international trade connections, and even the use of real butterfly wings in art
• Unveiling New Discoveries: Presents previously unknown aspects of flower still lifes, offering groundbreaking insights for art lovers and scholars alike
• Comprehensive Exploration: Combines art history, technical research, and storytelling to invite readers to view this genre with a fresh lens
• Published to accompany the exhibition Garden of Delights at the Kadriorg Art Museum in Tallinn, Estonia, from 30 August 2025 to January 25, 2026.

If flowers could talk...

In Forever Flowers, conservator Sven Van Dorst offers a different perspective on a vibrant genre, the seventeenth-century Flemish flower still life. His detailed exploration of eight magnificent pictures in the collection of The Phoebus Foundation is a search for the secrets that lie beneath the brushstrokes of Jan Brueghel I, Daniel Seghers, Jan Davidsz. De Heem, and their fellow flower painters.

With the latest in modern analysis and imaging technologies as well as reconstructions of historical techniques he penetrates the deepest layers of their works, bringing to light features not seen for nearly four hundred years. For hidden behind the apparent simplicity of a flower piece are coded meanings and astonishing painting processes.

The wealth of razor-sharp detail images in this richly illustrated book reveals many surprising inventions and discoveries about exotic flowers, butterfly wings, and… a llama. Each flower still life tells a story. Of perilous journeys, status and prestige, fear of death, love for a child, or our search for knowledge in a world that is ever-changing even as we try to hold on to it.