Pierre-Joseph Redouté was born in 1759 in Saint-Hubert, a small village in the Ardennes (now Belgium). In his youth, he traveled across Europe and began working as a stage painter before increasingly turning to scientific illustration. His interest in plants and his ability to depict them precisely and aesthetically eventually led him to Paris, where his career took a decisive turn.
In the French capital, Redouté encountered prominent scientists and botanists and was quickly introduced to the scientific and courtly society. He initially worked at the Jardin du Roi (now Jardin des Plantes), where he further developed his skills in botanical illustration. His major career began when he was appointed the official painter of Marie-Antoinette. Later, he also served Empress Joséphine Bonaparte and Queen Hortense, for whom he captured a variety of plants in extraordinarily detailed and elegant compositions.
Redouté's style was an ideal blend of scientific accuracy and artistic grace. His watercolors are distinguished by exceptional colorfulness, clarity, and an almost poetic expression. He became particularly renowned for his magnum opus "Les Roses" (The Roses), published between 1817 and 1824, which showcases over 170 species of roses in masterful depictions. In addition to roses, he illustrated numerous other plant species, including lilies, orchids, and tulips, and worked closely with naturalists of his time.
His work held not only aesthetic but also scientific value. Redouté significantly contributed to the popularization of botany in the 19th century and inspired generations of artists and scientists. He published numerous works with lithographic illustrations and later became active as a teacher—among others, at the School of Decorative Arts in Paris. He was one of the first to use the then-new technique of color lithography, which allowed his illustrations to be disseminated in high quality.
Pierre-Joseph Redouté died in 1840 in Paris, but his work lives on to this day. He is considered one of the greatest botanical illustrators of all time and a pioneer of botanical flower painting. His drawings and prints are still highly esteemed in museums, botanical collections, and among art lovers worldwide. Redouté's unique oeuvre combines science, art, and poetry—bringing nature to life with every leaf and blossom.
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