Pierre-Joseph Redouté: botanical artist to the court of France

Abstract

Pierre-Joseph Redouté (1759-1840) is the undisputed master of botanical art. His illustrations of flowers occupy the intersection of art and science, and they represent a unique fusion of botanical precision with artistic elegance. This richly illustrated publication presents a wide selection of Redouté's books, drawings and watercolours. Several short essays by Dutch and French specialists deal with different aspects of his art. As court artist to Queen Marie-Antoinette and Empress Joséphine, Redouté drew extraordinary flowers and plants from the Jardin des plantes and the gardens of Malmaison, which made him the darling of Parisian society. Napoleon Bonaparte presented his books as gifts to the crowned heads of Europe, and his pictures illustrated the works of the most eminent scientists of his day. His most famous books, 'Les Liliacées' and 'Les Roses', are among the milestones of botanical literature. Exhibition: Teylers Museum, Haarlem, the Netherlands (19.1.-5.5.2013).