The earthly paradise

The earthly paradise

By means of 30 selected prints from the 17th to 19th centuries, the exhibition takes us into idyllic worlds: the (biblical) paradise, the ideal landscape of ancient Arcadia, mythological and philosophical depictions as well as Mediterranean pastoral scenes. The pictorial messages, sometimes enigmatic for today’s viewer, contribute to the fascination of these representations.

The engravings are based on designs by illustrious artists such as Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640), Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (1606/07-1669) and Marten de Vos (1532-1603). There are also landscapes based on works by the French Baroque painter Claude Lorrain (1604/05-1682), who lived in Rome for many years and made a significant contribution to the development of landscape painting as an artistic genre in its own right. Artists such as Abraham Bloemart (1566-1651) and his student Jan Both (1615/22-1652), one of the Dutch Italianists, drew inspiration from Lorrain’s works while creating their own pictorial worlds.

The prints, which were specially restored for the exhibition, are part of a collection of over 1,000 pieces that the City of Luxembourg was able to acquire in 2020 and which has been shown in a series of themed cabinet exhibitions since 2023.