A few weekends ago, on a gorgeous, unseasonably warm day (which seems to be commonplace of late), I jumped on Metro North and headed uptown to The New York Botanical Garden. When I heard that an exhibition of Bunny Mellon's botanical art collection was on display, I knew I had to go see it. Well, Redouté to Warhol: Bunny Mellon’s Botanical Art, did not disappoint. This late gardening expert and art collector bought what she loved, and the works on display, some 80 masterworks of art including stunning Redoute watercolors, Andy Warhols, Picasso, Rousseau and other fine pieces show her passion for all things horticultural. The special jewel-box of a show is open until February 12th, and was curated with the help of her Oak Spring Garden Foundation.

The show, held in the magnificent LuEsther T. Mertz Library’s Art Gallery, has impeccable signage and an engaging display that lures you in under a majestic coffered rotunda

A single myrtle topiary elegantly signals what is to come

Even the stunning trompe l’oeil gardening scenes done in the Oak Springs Farm greenhouse garden room by the French artist Fernand Renard were incorporated into the display

Insects, butterflies and the natural world by Dutch painter Jan Van Kessel the Elder, part of a grouping of 17 paintings by the artist

Quince, apple, lemons, and three blue and white cups,  ca. 1700 Cristoforo Munari, attrib. (Italian, 1667-1720)

 

This was especially captivating: Etude de Fleurs, 1614 by Girolamo Pini 

Southern Magnolia, ca. 1737 by Georg Dionysius Ehret (German, 1708-70)