A waltz among flowers

Originally built in the 18th century as the summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy, a military commander and diplomat of the Habsburg monarchy, the Belvedere is now one of Europe's leading museums. Its renowned collection is housed in a Baroque architectural masterpiece in the historic center of Vienna, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Stella Rollig, general director of the Belvedere, says flowers offer visitors an immediate connection to art. "You don't have to be an art historian or know much about Austria or Austrian art history," she says. "You can simply enjoy these paintings because flowers are such a universal language.

"We have great admiration and respect for China's long tradition of flower-and-bird and landscape paintings. This exhibition is a meaningful cultural exchange that audiences can appreciate both emotionally and intellectually," she adds.

The exhibition opens with Baroque art, reflecting not only the style of the Belvedere itself but also the tastes of 18th-century Vienna. Floral still lifes from the period often pair blossoms with fruit, insects, small animals, silverware and glass vases. These lavish arrangements celebrated prosperity while also serving as reminders of life's fleeting nature, where beauty inevitably gives way to decline.

Among the highlights are the still lifes of German-born painter Franz Werner Tamm, who worked for the Austrian court. His richly saturated flowers emerge dramatically from dark backgrounds, demonstrating the Baroque mastery of light, shadow and meticulous detail.