Dutch still life. A series of 17th century still life images depicting the work of the Dutch masters. A body of work created entirely underwater with ebbing waves of light refracting off the scene. Image is captured ‘in-camera’ with no cropping and no post production either traditional or digital. These views of flowers, as aesthetic objects and as religious symbols, merged to create a very strong market for this type of still life. The symbolism of flowers had evolved since early Christian days. The most common flowers and their symbolic meanings include: rose (Virgin Mary, transience, Venus, love); lily (Virgin Mary, virginity, female breast, purity of mind or justice); tulip (showiness, nobility); sunflower (faithfulness, divine love, devotion); violet (modesty, reserve, humility); columbine (melancholy); poppy (power, sleep, death).
Natural objects began to be appreciated as individual objects of study apart from any religious or mythological associations.
