New York photographer Paulette Tavormina has recently released a new book, Seizing Beauty published by Monicelli Press. Every page is filled with lush, dense, yet elegant still-life compositions of fruit, vegetables, florals, botanicals, insects and butterflies. The settings are at turns dark with memento mori then switch to a lighter romantically seductive mood enhanced with candles, shells and assorted memorabilia.
I love still-life portraits and so was immediately captivated by Tavormina's considerable artistic flair. Looking at the photos it's apparent that Tavormina creates these vivid images with inspiration drawn from the classical styles of the sixteenth and seventeenth century Dutch, Flemish, Italian and Spanish still-life paintings by old Masters such as, Adriaen Coorte, Pieter Claesz, Caravaggio, Giovanna Garçon, Luis Menendez and Jacob van Hulsdonck.
The Style Saloniste blog where I came across Seizing Beauty captures the artistic sensibility of the photographs perfectly..."Noting the resonance of her Italian heritage, Taormina creates an intense sense of the fullness of seasons and time passing. The canvases that inspire her and her photography burst with life and flavor and heavenly sensuality."
Style Saloniste link to article...
Lemons and Pomegranates, After J.V.H. (2010)
Still Life with Lemons, Oranges and Pomegranate c. 1620-40 - oil on panel Jacob van Hulsdonck; The J Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles; image Getty's Open Content Program
Persimmons, After A.C. (2009)
Still Life with Three Medlars and a Butterfly c. 1696-1705 oil on paper, Adriaen Corte private collection
Flowers and Fish lll, After G.V.S. (2012)
Flowers and Butterfly, After GVS (2012)
Italian Plums, After G.G. (2015)
Still Life with Figs and Apricots, After L.M. (2014)
Oysters, After W.C.H. (2008)
Figs, After G.F. (2009)
Vanities III The Letter, After P.C. (2015)
Sour Cherries, After G.G. (2011)
Vanitas V Journeys, After D.B. (2015)
Vanitas IV Dreams, After A.C. (2015)
Cardoon and Radishes, After J.S.C. (2010)