Greystones Fine Interiors

Description

Pierre-Joseph Redouté (1759-1840) was one of the most talented botanical artists ever known. He is also possibly the most popular botanical artist in history - his sharpened observation and individual creativeness distinguishing him as a true artist as opposed to being an illustrator. Redouté was fortunate to become an artist who was patronized by the kings of France from Louis XVI to Louis-Philippe. His profile also has a unique claim to fame. His status and reputation was enhanced in no small way due to his patronage by two of the premier first ladies of European history - Marie Antoinette and Josephine Bonaparte. Whilst he is most famed for Les Roses (1817 - 21) he also created extraordinary studies of Fruits and Flower, a collection of which we offer. Redouté's original watercolours are characterised by subtle gradations of tone and when exploring methods for accurately reproducing his paintings Redouté's selected stipple engraving which produced simply astonishing and exquisite plates. Redouté's plates have artistic value, and botanical and documentary value, both for the species and cultivars still surviving and for those that have disappeared.

Here we are delighted to offer very fine and sublime Pansies bouquet by Pierre-Joseph Redouté. Pansies are the colorful flowers with “faces" and have heart-shaped, overlapping petals and one of the widest ranges of bright, pretty colors and patterns. The garden pansy is a type of large-flowered hybrid plant cultivated as a garden flower. It is derived by hybridization from several species in the section Melanium ("the pansies") of the genus Viola, particularly Viola tricolor, a wildflower of Europe and western Asia known as heartsease. The garden pansy flower is 5 to 8 centimetres in diameter and has two slightly overlapping upper petals, two side petals, and a single bottom petal with a slight beard emanating from the flower's center. These petals are usually white or yellow, purplish, or blue. The name "pansy" is derived from the French word pensée, "thought", and was imported into Late Middle English as a name of Viola in the mid-15th century, as the flower was regarded as a symbol of remembrance. The name "love in idleness" was meant to imply the image of a lover who has little or no other employment than to think of his beloved. The name "heart's-ease" came from St. Euphrasia, whose name in Greek signifies cheerfulness of mind. The woman, who refused marriage and took the veil, was considered a pattern of humility, hence the name "humble violet". In Italy the pansy is known as flammola (little flame).

The lithograph was printed by hand in 1954 by K.G. Lohse of Frankfurt, made using the original 'stipple' engraving plate from the hand of Pierre Joseph Redouté. This plate is near identical to those produced with Redouté's oversight, the tones, textures, details are astonishing. This is a very, very fine plate indeed.

The lithograph is mounted in a luxury handmade, hand-finished and wonderfully gilded hammered wooden frame with a confidently proportioned decorated mount. A fine gold fillet has been added as a very sophisticated contrast for the plate. The frame is renaissance gold (the main face features thick foil incorporating real gold) and with good light this piece just glows, with a wonderful, deep and warm gold tone (even our professional photographs can't adequately capture the beautiful frame colour). The glass is museum quality with low reflection, amazing colour transparency and high U.V. absorption to protect the works. The archival acid-free materials and professional techniques used to protect and frame this work will ensure that it continues to be enjoyed for many decades to come.

The framed Lithograph measures 57cm tall by 48cm wide.

The work can be shipped, at cost, within the UK or Internationally.