Redoute illustration. Redutea heterophylla. Mallow botanical illustration.

Pretty Yellow Mallow flowers, Redutea heterophylla by Redouté.

Reproduction printed from a stipple engraving by Bessin, colour-printed and finished by hand, after a painting by Pierre Joseph Redouté (1759-1840) for his Choix des plus belles fleurs et des plus beaux fruits (Redouté's Choice of the most beautiful flowers and fruit). Originally published in Paris between 1827 and 1830, Redouté considered this work "reached that synthesis of botanical accuracy, composition and colouration that is essential to produce the perfect image of the plant kingdom".

Having moved from Belgium to Paris in 1782, Redouté's passion for painting flowers took him to the Jardin du Roi (King's Garden) where he met the botanist Gerard van Spaendonck and became his assistant. He was next employed by wealthy amateur botanist Charles-Louis L'Heritier de Brutelle, who employed Redouté as an illustrator and instructed him in plant anatomy, which greatly assisted with his botanical illustrations.

Redouté painted exquisite watercolours on vellum for his employer Napoleon's Empress Josephine to record the plants and flowers in her lavish gardens at Malmaison. During turbulent times in France, Redouté had as pupils or patrons, five queens and empresses of France, from Marie-Antoinette to Empress Josephine and her successor Marie-Louise.

Approximate size of this print is 13 x 10 inches or 33 x 25cm. We recommend U/V-protective art glass when framing.