1. Tamed Nature: A History of Gardens as a work of Art- Ancient Babylon and modern cities have gardens in common as an emotional and aesthetic expression of their civilizations. Private gardens are the soul of a city or home. They have been made to represent the power of a monarch or state and since the Industrial Revolution, private domestic tranquility.
2. Nature Morte: An Explosion of Life In Still Life Paintings- Aside from the skill in rendering the beauty of fruits, flowers, insects, animals, and musical instruments, contemporary Still Life artists - just like their counterparts during the 16th and 17th century - have an implied message in their work: that regardless of the acquired riches of life, in the final hour such things are meaningless.
3. The Blooms of Still Lives- In 17th C Netherlands, artists were able to support themselves by supplying the newly developed bourgeoise economy with affordable commercial art. Still Lifes became a significant part of their reality portraying the exotic fruits and flowers brought home by Holland’s far-reaching mercantile navy.