Rachel Ruysch: Nature into Art reclaims the Legacy of a Trailblazing Still-life Painter, Opening April 12 at the Toledo Museum of Art

Eye On Art  |  04/03/2025 10:00 am

Nature into Art, the first ever major exhibition of Ruysch’s art, will be on view April 12-July 27 at the Toledo Museum of Art (TMA). Featuring over 100 works—including paintings, botanical books and drawings, and plant and animal specimens, the exhibition explores Ruysch’s extraordinary career and the intersection of art, science, and natural history.  

“Renowned for her exquisite still-life paintings, Ruysch achieved exceptional fame in the 17th and 18th centuries, garnering admiration for her masterful technique and her ability to intertwine the beauty of nature with scientific observation,” said Robert Schindler, William Hutton Curator of European Art at TMA and the curator of the Toledo exhibition of Rachel Ruysch: Nature into Art.  

Schindler continued, “Despite her exceptional career, Ruysch’s contributions to art history have been underexplored. Through this exhibition, we aim to shine a spotlight on her remarkable achievements and trace her illustrious career while exploring the rich connections in her work between art and science during the Scientific Revolution.”  

Highlights of the exhibition include:  

  • Several important Ruysch paintings from major international collections that have rarely or never been on public view. 
  • A reunion of Flower Still Life (c.1716–1720), TMA’s Ruysch masterpiece, and its long-separated pendant, Still Life with Fruit, Bird’s Nest and Insects (1716), from Dudmaston Hall in England.  
  • Three portraits of Ruysch, including a family portrait with her husband and youngest son and a recently discovered portrait of the artist in her studio.  
  • Works by Ruysch’s sister Anna, also a talented flower painter who experienced a far shorter career than Ruysch.  

“This exhibition not only celebrates Rachel Ruysch’s stunning artistry but also reflects the Toledo Museum of Art’s ongoing commitment to broadening the narrative of art history,” said Adam Levine, TMA’s Edward Drummond and Florence Scott Libbey Director, President, and CEO. “Ruysch’s legacy as a trailblazer and innovator is one that resonates deeply today, and we are honored to share her work with our visitors.” 

Visitor Information 

Rachel Ruysch: Nature into Art will be on view from April 12 to July 27 in the Levis Gallery in the Edward B Green Beaux-Arts Building on the campus of TMA. Tickets to the exhibition are $10 per visitor and free for TMA members. General admission to the museum and parking are free to all visitors.  

The visitor’s experience with the exhibition is enhanced with interactive and educational elements including an audio guide, an audio description tour, a digital species map, tactile and scent features, a printed exhibition guide, and a fully illustrated catalogue available for purchase. 

Rachel Ruysch: Nature into Art is organized by the Toledo Museum of Art in conjunction with the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. The Toledo Musuem of Art’s design partner for this exhibition is Selldorf Architects.  

The Toledo exhibition is made possible with the generous support of Presenting Sponsors Susan and Tom Palmer; Season Sponsors Taylor Automotive Family and the Rita Barbour Kern Foundation; Platinum Sponsor Todd and Jeannie Peters, and the Zenith Foundation; Silver Sponsor TMA Ambassadors; and additional funding from the Ohio Arts Council, which receives support from the State of Ohio and the National Endowment for the Arts. 

For more information about the exhibition, visit toledomuseum.org/exhibitions/rachel-ruysch-nature-into-art. 

ABOUT THE TOLEDO MUSEUM OF ART 
Recently named the 2025 Best Art Museum in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, the Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) is a beloved cultural institution in Toledo, Ohio, and a global leader in the museum field. Established in 1901, its renowned collection features over 25,000 works, ranging from antiquity to contemporary art, and includes one of the finest collections of glass in the world. Situated on a 40-acre campus, TMA integrates art into people’s lives through its world-class collection, engaging exhibitions, robust educational programs, and community outreach.  

Admission and parking to TMA are always free, welcoming everyone to explore its galleries. The museum is open Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is closed on Monday, Tuesday, and select holidays. TMA is located at 2445 Monroe St., just one block off I-75, with exit signs posted for easy access. For more information, call 419-255-8000 or visit toledomuseum.org. 

 

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