Dutch painters of the 17th century vastly expanded the artist's palate — and his palette. Suddenly, a new array of subjects was deemed suitable for depiction: including peasant life, landscapes, townscapes, maritime paintings, flower paintings and a variety of still lifes. "The era was a huge turning point in terms of opening up the realms of what could be painted," said John Nolan, curator of the Bob Jones University Museum and Gallery.

A new exhibition at BJU's Museum and Gallery explores the vivid paintings of the Dutch Golden Age. Twelve works from a private New York collector are being displayed in addition to the museum's permanent collection of dozens of Dutch and Flemish works by Rembrandt, Rubens, van Dyck and many others.