Rosier d’Amour (Rose of Love). Rosa Pumila print.

$30.00

Redoute's beautiful Rosa Pumila, Rosier d'Amour reproduction print.

Reproduction from a stipple engraving by Bessin after the painting by Pierre-Joseph Redouté (1759-1840) for his Les Roses, originally published in Paris between 1827 and 1830. Redoute roses are the best known illustrations of this beautiful flower. 

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. Redouté pioneered the intricate colour-printed stipple engraving, finished by hand.

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. 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.

This is an early reproduction and the paper is age-discoloured so it looks antique. There is light soiling towards edges but this would not show when framed. Print size is 40.5 x 30cm (16 x 11 3/4 inches).