Jane Austen's World

Pierre-Joseph Redouté’s flower prints are so lush and detailed that you can almost pick the flowers off the page. In the famous rose print below, a single drop of water rests exquisitely on a rose petal of the top rose. Born in a family of artists*, Pierre-Joseph became known as the premier botanical illustrator of his day (indeed, to this day). His influence spread far and wide and can be still felt in illustrations on cards, decorative boxes, books, wallpapers and prints, and calendars.

The watercolor images in this post were taken from his famous book of prints, Les Roses. Redouté, known as the “Raphael of flowers, mastered the technique of stipple engraving- in which he uses tiny dots, rather than lines, to create engraved copies of his watercolor illustrations. This new technique allowed him to make subtle variations in coloring (see the detail of the magnolia in the last image below).

The four faces (and ages) of Pierre-Joseph Redouté

Redouté completed the three volumes of Les Roses, his best known work, between 1817 and 1824. His most popular illustrations are assembled in Les Liliacées (486 watercolors); and Les Roses (169 watercolors). Hand-colored stipple engravings, such as the magnolia sitting at the bottom of this post, were made from these watercolors. – Discovery Editions

Josephine, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, was known for her spectacular garden at Chateau de Malmaison, where exotic plants were cultivated. The plants, acquired from around the world, were documented by France’s leading horticulturists and botanists, and painted by Pierre-Joseph Redouté.

Detail of the magnolia engraving below.

More on this topic

• The Floral Art of Pierre Joseph Redoute by Marianne Roland Michel, Peter C. Sutton, Carolyn Rose Rebbert, 2002
• George Glazer Gallery
• Illustration in book
• Trouvais
• Rose Prints
• A Picture of Roses
• Dictionary of painters and Engravers, 1889 By Michael Bryan, Robert Edmund Graves
• Les Liliacees, Cincinnati Historical Society Library

* Redoute’s family:

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Posted in art, jane austen, Jane Austen's World, Napoleon, Regency Art, Regency Period, Regency style, Regency World | Tagged botanical prints, flower prints, Jospehine Bonaparte, Pierre-Joseph Redouté, Rose engravings, rose watercolors | 12 Comments

12 Responses

1. on November 11, 2009 at 23:58 Tweets that mention The Botanical Prints of Pierre-Joseph Redouté (1759-1840) « Jane Austen's World -- Topsy.com

   […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Vic , Laura . Laura said: RT @janeaustenworld The lush botanical prints of Pierre-Joseph Redouté (1759-1840) on Jane Austen's World, http://bit.ly/111pVe […]

   
   
2. on November 12, 2009 at 10:51 Sonia

   Amazing techniques and vivid images and artwork.

   
   
3. on November 12, 2009 at 14:46 Simone

   I have a print of Redouté’s ‘Canterbury Bells’ in my office that I can help but stare at every time I enter the room. His mastery is undeniable. The colour even in a reproduction is vivid and the technique unmistakable. Great post and all the very best.

   
   
4. on November 12, 2009 at 18:17 Janeen

   I family of artists! Beautiful work in watercolor no less! Amazing!

   
   
5. on November 12, 2009 at 18:48 Nicola

   Stunning. I love botanical prints.

   
   
6. on November 13, 2009 at 18:04 Laurel Ann

   I have long admired Redouté. He inspired me to pursue a specialty in botanical illustration in college. I have three rose prints hanging above my bed. Reprints – not originals from his books, which are quite pricey these days.

   Thanks for the excellent recap of life & works Vic.

   
   
7. on December 27, 2009 at 09:00 My Christmas Loot « Austenprose

   […] November my co-blogger Vic (Ms. Place) at Jane Austen Today wrote an excellent post on French botanical artist Pierre Joseph Redoute (1759-1840) at her blog Jane Austen’s World. It reminded me how much I cherish this artist. […]

   
   
8. on January 31, 2010 at 11:40 Carolyn C.

   I have loved Redoutè ‘s beautiful work since childhood. This led me to visit many of the places
   in Belgium, Paris and London where he lived and worked, including his hometown, St Hubert, Belgium and Malmaison. My picture book, REDOUTE, The Man Who Painted Flowers (Putnam) was the result of my research into his life. You can find posts about the book on my blog, http://cateatsbananasandflies.blogspot.com/search/label/Pierre-Joseph%20Redouté

   Carolyn Croll

   
   
9. on February 8, 2010 at 17:31 gg

   hello. i love the art at the top of your site. can you tell me more about it? who is the artist?

   
   
10. on March 26, 2010 at 05:35 The Engagement - Plaid et Noir

    […] the entire castle. Marianne painstakingly hand-painted botanical studies in the style of Besler and Redouté. Darren, of course, was fervently flipping through local histories to envision the legacy of the […]

    
    
11. on April 7, 2011 at 00:14 taking it down a notch « the paris apartment

    […] janeaustensworld.wordpress.com […]

    
    
12. on April 24, 2012 at 03:59 Mike Shumaker

    I have an original print-dated 1817 of Redoute’s The Turpentine-Scented Downy Rose also the botanical name is Rosa Villosa Terebenthina-I am interested in selling-can anyone help me out on how to go about selling the item. It has been valued at around 2200.00.

    thanks
    divotcad@bellsouth.net

    
    

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