About Reliquary

In 17th century Holland there was a growing astonishment for how God had manifested himself; scientists believed when trying to understand God's greatness, one shouldn't just read the bible but also study all living things created by him. Objects of nature were already collected as a curiosity, but some collectors actually tried to systematically collect examples of all living things known to man, thus creating a miniature world within reach. These paintings refer to a decade of discoveries in natural science which led to changing views on evolution and religion. They also pay homage to the rich history of collecting and scientific illustration.