Overview: Join us at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation for the opening reception of Painting the Tulip: Beauty, Science, and Speculation.
Guests are invited to celebrate the launch of this exhibition, which traces the tulip’s rich journey from 16th-century Middle Eastern cultivation through European "Tulip Mania" to the present day. On view will be rare manuscripts, books, and archival materials brought together by Rachel "Bunny" Mellon, alongside remarkable watercolors and etchings by featured artist Sarah Horowitz.
We kindly ask that you register in advance for this event, and we look forward to welcoming you to the gallery.
About Oak Spring Garden Foundation: The Oak Spring Garden Foundation (OSGF) is a philanthropic foundation based at the former primary estate of the late Paul and Rachel Mellon, who were major philanthropists in the U.S. of the arts, humanities, and sciences in the second half of the twentieth century. OSGF is located in the northern Virginia Piedmont and Blue Ridge Mountains region (ca. one-hour drive from Washington, D.C.). Led by Sir Peter Crane, the Foundation’s inaugural President, OSGF provides workshops, short courses and supports residencies for artists and scholars. Its celebrated Library comprises rare books, manuscripts and works of art relating to horticulture, landscape design, botany and natural history. It is becoming a new center of stimulation of all things botanical, from fundamental research in plant evolution and conservation, to horticultural and plant conservation practice, to the history and art of plants, gardens and landscapes.
Photo Release Statement: By attending this event, you consent to your likeness and image being used for ongoing promotional and marketing efforts.
Header Image: Jacob Marrel (German, 1614-1681). Selected drawing from tulpenboeken. Utrecht, 1642. Manuscript comprising of 95 water- and bodycolor drawings. Oak Spring Garden Foundation, Upperville, Virginia.
Select Images of Tulip Collection from the Oak Spring Garden Library
Johanna Helena Herolt (German, 1668-1723)
Two Tulips (Tulipa cf. stellata and Tulipa schrenkii) and two Irises (Iris foetidissima and Iris graminea plena)
Not dated.
Water- and bodycolor on vellum, 15 x 12 ¼ inches.
Oak Spring Garden Foundation, Upperville, Virginia
Gerard van Spaendonck (Dutch, 1746-1822)
Six studies of tulips
Not dated.
Watercolor and pencil, 14 x 20 5/8 inches.
Oak Spring Garden Foundation, Upperville, Virginia.