BEAUTY: Photography--Paulette Tavormina

Seeing as Thanksgiving is tomorrow, let's look at the glorious cornucopia photography of New York City-based artist Paulette Tavormina. She creates still lifes and tableaux that are in the style of seventeenth century Old Master painters. I love how she skillfully captures with lighting, composition, texture, and saturated color the exact feeling of such an old canvas.

Artist Statement:

"I have long been drawn to the seventeenth century Old Master Still Life painters Giovanna Garzoni, Francisco de Zurbarán, and Adriaen Coorte. I am particularly fascinated by Zurbarán's mysterious use of dramatic light, Garzoni's masterful compositions and color palette, and Coorte's unique placements of objects. 

Seventeenth century Europe witnessed an explosion of interest in the natural world. Botanical encyclopedias from the period are records of the discoveries made on extensive explorations during this 'Golden Age' of global trading. Still life painters incorporated shells, insects, exotic fruits, and flowers found abroad alongside Venetian glass and Chinese porcelain. Their vignettes served as a tribute to newly discovered corners of the world. Worldly in their composition, these paintings also speak to universal themes as relevant then as now: the fragility of life and love, fleeting beauty and tempus fugit, the swift passage of time."

http://paulettetavormina.com