Elegance and Refinement: The Still-Life Paintings of Willem van Aelst

The paintings of Willem van Aelst (1627–1683) are known for their fine finish, innovative compositions, sumptuous subject matter, and rich, jewel-toned palette. Published on the occasion of an unprecedented traveling exhibition, this book celebrates Van Aelst’s achievements and his significant impact on Dutch still-life painting. 

Van Aelst masterfully depicted arrangements of fresh fruit and flowers, displays of dead game, and evocations of the forest floor, as well as elegant objects such as nautilus cups, distinctive silver vessels, and Venetian glassware. This book features twenty-five paintings from throughout his career. Catalog entries and a biographical essay are provided by Tanya Paul, James Clifton writes about the Medici court, Julie Berger Hochstrasser analyzes Van Aelst’s choice of subject matter, Arthur K. Wheelock Jr. discusses Van Aelst’s time in Amsterdam, and a team of conservators reveals his technical process.

About the Author

Tanya Paul is the Ruth G. Hardman Curator of European Art at the Philbrook Museum of Art, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. James Clifton is director of the Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation and curator of Renaissance and Baroque painting at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Julie Berger Hochstrasser is associate professor of art history at the University of Iowa. Arthur K. Wheelock Jr., is curator of Dutch and Flemish paintings at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.