Paris, P. Dufart, 1828-1829.
3 parts in 3 large 8vo volumes [220 x 154 mm]. One engraved hand-colored frontispiece and 182 full-page engravings. Blue half-calf, flat spines decorated lengthwise with gilt rocaille tools, mottled edges. Contemporary binding.
Enlarged edition of Redoute’s Roses, a sought-after one since it is the most complete. This is one of the main works by the famous Redouté, nicknamed the “Raphael of flowers”, by his contemporaries. Nissen 1599. Great Flower books, 71. Stafleu, 1044.
It is illustrated with 182 full-page plates (220 mm height), drawn by P.J. Redouté, printed in colors and contemporary enhanced with watercolor “underhis eyes”.
Born in an artistic family, Pierre-Joseph Redouté discovered Van Huysum’s excellent flowers productions thanks to a travel in Holland.
“It is the most complete of the 8vo editions. It is illustrated with 2 portraits and 181 plates including 21 appearing for the first time. It encloses a new methodic classification of the roses by C.E. Thory”.
Giving free rein to his natural inclination, Redouté executed small watercolors “that showed an anatomical science of the flower and of the plant unknown until him, as well as a richness of effects, a brightness of colors that left all the models far behind”.
Redouté became Queen Marie Antoinette’s private professor. At each of the royal lessons, the most beautiful flowers in Versailles’ greenhouses were displayed in vases from Japan and Sèvres before being marvelously watercolored uner the eyes of the Queen by the painter. Teacher of Joséphine and then of Marie-Louis, he also taught his art to the duchess de Berry, to Queen Marie Amélie and to Madame Adélaïde. In 1822, Louis XVIII named Redouté “professor of vegetal iconography to the King’s Garden”.
Through the 182 marvelous plates, with a line both precise and light, are revived all these species of ancient rosebushes that enchanted Versailles or Bagatelle’s rose gardens.
Rosa centifolia, gallica, alpina, multiflora, muscoa, indica, rubrifolia… printed in colors have been very subtly enhanced with watercolor under Redouté’s eyes in a very varied range from the most delicate rose to purplish-blue.
REDOUTE, Pierre-Joseph. Les Roses from Librairie Camille Sourget on Vimeo.
A seducing copy, perfectly fresh, preserved in its elegant contemporary rocaille Parisian binding.
