Redouté Poppy illustrations. Papaver. Cambricum. Yellow Poppy print.

Lovely Yellow Poppy botanical illustration by Redouté.

Reproduction from a stipple engraving by Langlois, 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". Redouté painted exquisite watercolours on vellum for his employer Napoleon's Empress Josephine to record the plants and flowers from around the world, that were cultivated in her lavish gardens at Malmaison outside Paris.

Having moved from Belgium to Paris in 1782, Redouté's passion for painting flowers took him to the Jardin du Roi 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. 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 glass for all artwork to prevent fading.