Redoute. Roses

The tradition of botanical illustration dates back to the Renaissance, with Pierre-Joseph Redouté considered the best painter and engraver. He worked from live plants, introducing stipple-engraving to France, and acquired influential patrons like Marie Antoinette and Empress Josephine Bonaparte. His impressive collection comprises over 2,000 paintings of plants, and this edition of Les Roses is his most famous and celebrated work.

Format: Hardback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 14 February 2024
Publisher: Taschen GmbH

The revered tradition of botanical illustration traces its origins back to the Renaissance, born from a profound desire to capture the unpredictable splendor of nature. This artistic pursuit demanded the utmost precision and talent from the artists involved. Among the distinguished figures in this field, Pierre-Joseph Redouté stands tall as the preeminent painter and engraver of botanical illustration. With a remarkable skill that effortlessly captured the most intricate subjects in nature, Redouté is widely regarded as the finest artist in this realm.

One of the hallmarks of his work was his preference for working from live plants rather than relying on herbarium specimens. This approach infused his watercolors with an extraordinary subtlety and freshness, lending them a truly authentic and captivating quality. Redouté was also an innovator in printing techniques, introducing stipple-engraving to France. His unwavering pursuit of greater exactitude in his art led him to continually push the boundaries of his craft.

Fortuitously, Redouté gained the patronage of some of the most influential figures of his time, including Marie Antoinette and Empress Josephine Bonaparte. Their support ensured that his work received ample funding and prominent display, further elevating his reputation. His impressive collection comprises over 2,000 meticulously rendered paintings of plants, each capturing the essence of nature with remarkable accuracy and strict adherence to the natural world.

In this exquisite edition of Les Roses, Redouté focuses his attention on the most romantic, desirable, and evocative flower. Originally published in three volumes between 1817 and 1824, it remains his most famous and celebrated work. Through his meticulous illustrations, Redouté invites viewers to immerse themselves in the world of botanical beauty, offering a glimpse into the intricate details and captivating allure of the rose.

Weight: 411g
Dimension: 195 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783836595711
Edition number: Multilingual ed