Pierre-Joseph Redoute (1759-1840) is the best known botanical artist of any era. Described as both the 'Rembrandt' and the 'Raphael' of flowers by 19th-century writers, Redoute brought the tradition of botanical painting to its apogee. Born in the Belgian Ardennes he studied the work of earlier Flemish and Dutch floral artists, and when in Paris studied botany. He was given special access to the gardens at Versailles by Marie Antoinette, and to those of Malmaison by the Empress Josephine.
His greatest works are his carefully observed and supremely delicate watercolours on vellum and parchment, but he also painted in oils and illustrated more than 50 botanical books with color prints. This book accompanied the 1992 exhibition in the USA of the work of artist.