Pierre-Joseph Redouté: the book of flowers = das buch der blumen = le livre des fleurs

Abstract

Flower painter Pierre-Joseph Redoute (1759-1840) devoted himself exclusively to capturing the diversity of flowering plants in watercolor paintings which were then published as copper engravings, with careful botanical descriptions. The darling of wealthy Parisian patrons including Napoleon's wife Josephine, he was dubbed "the Raphael of flowers," and is regarded to this day as a master of botanical illustration. This collection brings our best-selling XL-sized edition to a smaller, more convenient format, still gathering some of the finest color engravings from Redoute's illustrations of Roses, Lilies, and Choix des plus belles fleurs et quelques branches des plus beaux fruits (Selection of the Most Beautiful Blooms and Branches with the Finest Fruits). Offering a vibrant overview of Redoute's admixture of accuracy and beauty, it is also a privileged glimpse into the magnificent gardens and greenhouses of a bygone Paris

Contents

Pierre-Joseph Redouté, the "Raphael of Flowers" = Der 'Raffael de Blumen' = Le 'Raphaël des fleurs' -- The Lilies = Lilien = Les Liliacées : 1802-1816 -- The Roses = Rosen = Les Roses : 1817-1824 -- Selection of the most beautiful flowers = Auslese der schönsten blumen = Choix des plus belles fleurs : 1827-1833.