diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 06b77a9a..1356683f 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 .DS_Store
+*.iml
 /node_modules/
 /npm-debug.log
 before_commit
diff --git a/src/static_canvas.class.js b/src/static_canvas.class.js
index 6b4ea2c5..247f7115 100644
--- a/src/static_canvas.class.js
+++ b/src/static_canvas.class.js
@@ -133,6 +133,13 @@
      */
     imageSmoothingEnabled: true,
 
+    /**
+     * Indicates whether objects should remain in current stack position when selected. When false objects are brought to top and rendered as part of the selection group
+     * @type Boolean
+     * @default
+     */
+    preserveObjectStacking: false,
+
     /**
      * The transformation (in the format of Canvas transform) which focuses the viewport
      * @type Array
@@ -702,13 +709,22 @@
       ctx.save();
       var v = this.viewportTransform;
       ctx.transform(v[0], v[1], v[2], v[3], v[4], v[5]);
-      object.render(ctx);
+      if (this._shouldRenderObject(object)) {
+        object.render(ctx);
+      }
       ctx.restore();
       if (!this.controlsAboveOverlay) {
         object._renderControls(ctx);
       }
     },
 
+    _shouldRenderObject: function(object) {
+      if (!object) {
+        return false;
+      }
+      return (object !== this.getActiveGroup() || !this.preserveObjectStacking);
+    },
+
     /**
      * @private
      * @param {fabric.Object} obj Object that was added
@@ -830,7 +846,7 @@
       var i, length;
 
       // fast path
-      if (!activeGroup) {
+      if (!activeGroup || this.preserveObjectStacking) {
         for (i = 0, length = this._objects.length; i < length; ++i) {
           this._draw(ctx, this._objects[i]);
         }
diff --git a/test/unit/canvas_static.js b/test/unit/canvas_static.js
index 172df76e..c29b53d2 100644
--- a/test/unit/canvas_static.js
+++ b/test/unit/canvas_static.js
@@ -423,6 +423,11 @@
     equal(canvas, canvas.renderAll());
   });
 
+  test('preserveObjectStacking', function() {
+    ok(typeof canvas.preserveObjectStacking == 'boolean');
+    ok(!canvas.preserveObjectStacking);
+  });
+
   test('renderTop', function() {
     ok(typeof canvas.renderTop == 'function');
     equal(canvas, canvas.renderTop());