Redoute’s Roses-Botanical Art Prints

The 18th and 19th century French painter, Pierre-Joseph Redouté (ray-DEW-tay),  has become world-renowned for his beautifully detailed botanical illustrations, particularly his paintings of roses.

Redouté was born in Belgium 1759, and followed in his father’s footsteps from a very young age, decorating churches and painting portraits.

His brother invited him to Paris to help decorate a theater, and there the gifted artist began to blossom. He spent his spare time painting flowers in the King’s gardens.

It was there that Redouté met the botanist Charles L’Héritier, who encouraged the young artist to focus on the scientific accuracy of his work, along with his natural artistry.  L’Héritier helped the young man publish his first illustrations.

Creating botanical illustrations

To create the prints from his original paintings, Redouté used the labor-intensive technologies of his day.  He created several color separated engraving plates for each illustration, and then added final touches by hand to each print.

As Redoute’s reputation grew, he attracted the attention of Queen Marie-Antoinette, who chose him to decorate the walls of her  palace.

But when France was overtaken by Revolutionaries, the queen was imprisoned. Late one night, Marie-Antoinette summoned Redouté to her cell, where she asked him to paint a favorite cactus plant due to flower at midnight. It was the last time the artist saw the queen alive.

Painter to the Empress

Somehow Redouté survived the French Revolution, despite his position with the Queen, and later he became “Painter to the Empress” Josephine Bonaparte (Napoleon’s wife).

By this time, Redouté was enjoying the height of his success, and was able to purchase a home in the country as well as an apartment in the city, complete with a studio.  He was married and had a daughter, Josephine.

There was plenty of money, and Redouté spent lavishly, in spite of his wife’s protests. Eventually, however, Redouté became the victim of politics, his own generosity, and his lack of ability to manage money.

Painting Les Roses

It was at this point that Redouté began work on a volume of paintings called Les Roses, which became his greatest achievement. For this project, he often painted in the gardens at Malmaison, enjoying the roses with the Empress Josephine.  When she died, her heirs invited Redouté to remain official painter at Malmaison, though they were no longer able to pay him for his work.

Meanwhile, the family’s unpaid bills were mounting and Redouté was forced to mortgage the country home.  The large-format edition of Les Roses was an artistic triumph, but printing costs made it too expensive.

Wrong botanical names

A small, more affordable edition followed, but Redouté was criticized by botanists for printing the wrong names for some of the new plants.

Though he was broke and forced to sell his furniture and his original paintings, Redouté was awarded the French Medal of Honor in 1825.  Later, Redouté received the Distinguished Order from King Leopold of Belgium, his native country.

Redouté continued to paint flowers and tutor his art students until he died in 1840 at the age of 81. The Louvre houses many of Redouté’s works.

Click here to shop for Redoute rose prints.

Copyright 2011 by Holly B. Martin  All Rights Reserved.

Roses by Paul de Longpre, Athaneum

You’ve seen them in all the shelter magazines–from Traditional to Modern Eclectic to Romantic and French Country styles. Botanicals and realistic nature prints of other subjects such as sea shells, ferns and exotic birds, fit into so many kinds of home decor, that they never seem to go out of style.

But, aside from ordering through a high-priced decorator with a 100 percent markup, where can you buy botanical art prints for your own home?

One source is your local frame shop.  You may not see exactly what you want on display, so ask to look through the catalogs.  Often a shop will order prints and not charge you until you see them and decide to buy.

Another source of botanical prints is eBay. Search under the Arts & Antiques section for prints or floral art, or by the artist’s name.  Many eBay stores carry botanicals by the most well-known artists, such as Redoute and de Longpre. Generally, the prints you find on eBay will be framed, and they are usually available to buy instantly, without going through an auction.

Framed botanical art prints are also sold at discount, department and home specialty stores. Most often, these are matted in pink, hunter green or maroon, and framed in gold. You may get lucky and find the perfect print for your wall, with a mat and frame coordinated with your decor, at a very reasonable price.

However, to get the exact print you want, in the perfect mat and frame, and at the best price, try an online source, such as Art.com.

By searching through online catalogs, you get the largest possible selection to choose from.  Then, using the miracle of technology, you can “try out” your print with different mat and frame combinations.  Some art websites have a page that allows you to display the print, mat and frame on a background color that matches your walls.

Because internet art sites skip the middleman, they can offer botanical art prints at the lowest possible price.  Your order can be shipped quickly and within a week, you can enjoy the beauty and tradition of botanical art prints gracing the walls of your home.

Copyright 2011 by Holly B. Martin. All Rights Reserved.