The first monograph in over 70 years on the celebrated female Dutch painter

In the first half of the eighteenth century, Rachel Ruysch (1664–1750) was celebrated across Europe for her sumptuous floral still lifes. Admired for both its artistry and its meticulous depictions of flowers, fruit, and insects, her work was largely overlooked in the centuries following her death. Rachel Ruysch: Nature into Art, and the exhibition it accompanies, introduces today’s audiences to Ruysch’s achievements and explore the pioneering roles of women artists and scientists in the Dutch Republic in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

"Rachel Ruysch: Nature into Art is an outstanding example of scholarship and design.... This beautiful book immediately sets a moody vibe with its dark cloth-bound cover featuring a close-up of a botanical still life and “Rachel Ruysch” imprinted in copper foil. The reproductions are stunning, showcasing an incredible detail with vivid color contrasting the deep backgrounds of the still life paintings. The scholarly essays highlight Ruysch’s career and legacy while considering botanical art traditions. Green pages highlight the end matter which includes an inventory of native and nonnative flora and fauna depicted in Ruysch’s work in addition to a bibliography, notes, index, and a list of works."—Art Libraries Society of North America

Recipient of the 2024 George Wittenborn Memorial Book Award and GOLD Winner for Art in the 2024 Foreword INDIES Book Awards