The Art of Power and BlingDutch and Flemish Baroque Still Life paintings.

This Presentation features examples of Still Life Paintings from the Baroque Period in Belgium and Holland during the 16th and 17th centuries.

These Still Lifes are not just images of flowers, fruits, butterflies, meat and shellfish, they are IMAGES of their nation’s Naval Power and Consumer Wealth.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, it took the best and fastest Ships in the world, weeks and even months, to cross the ocean and return with a Parrot or an Orange, a Lemon or a Tropical Flower

from China, India, the Caribbean, Africa or North America or the Middle East.

If you were wealthy enough to own or even eat these things, it was amazing. It was almost like having rocks from the MOON.

Jan Davidsz de Heem (1606-1684) . Still-life. Dutch Baroque Period.

Joris Van Son (1623–1667) Fruit with Nautilus Shell. Flemish Baroque Period

Jan Davidsz de Heem (1606-1684) . Still-life with Bird. Dutch Baroque Period.

Ambrosius Bosschaert. (1573 – 1621) Still Life. Dutch. Baroque Period.

Rachel Ruysch (1664 – 1750)Still Life. Dutch Baroque Period.

Jan van Kessel. (1626 – 1679). Dutch. Still Life. Baroque Period.

Rachel Ruysch (1664 – 1750). Still Life. Dutch Baroque Period.

Included also are examples of Paintings by Dutch, Baroque artist, Johannes Vermeer and one by Flemish, Renaissance artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Because they show the Power and Wonder of ORDINARY LIFE. And because they’re fantastic.

Also included are images from the Column of Trajan, from Ancient Rome (118 A.D.). These show, through Sculpture, another way of expressing Political and Military Power.

Johannes Vermeer. (1632 –1675).The Milkmaid.Dutch. Baroque Period.

Johannes Vermeer. (1632 –1675).The Lacemaker. Dutch. Baroque Period.

Johannes Vermeer. (1632 –1675).The Lacemaker. (detail)Dutch. Baroque Period.

Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1525-1569). Dutch Proverbs. Flemish. Renaissance Period.

Column of Trajan. 113 A.D. Rome, Italy.Overall image and Detail of a Battle scene.

Column of Trajan. 113 A.D. Rome, Italy. Detail.