EXHIBITION The Fantastical Mundane: Selections from the Grasset-Linares Collection

During the 17th century, booming Dutch trade enabled the rise of a powerful middle class. This, along with the waning patronage system, led to the emergence of an art market that catered to the tastes of the new social class, making art available for display in private homes. This economic prosperity and growing demand for relatable imagery gave way to the Dutch Golden Age of painting, where marvelous still lifes, landscapes, and genre scenes became widely popular. The works in this exhibition illustrate the captivating charm of mundane subjects like flowers, fruits, and the natural terrain. On long-term loan from The Grasset-Linares Collection, this selection of paintings includes traditional Dutch floral arrangements, rich banquet scenes, and detailed landscapes. This exhibition is guest curated by Sophia Foster ‘24, former Fred W. Hicks Curatorial Fellow at the RMA.