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Flowering Cactus: Redoute Hand-colored Engraving "Cactus Opuntia Polyanthos"

Creator: Pierre-Joseph Redouté
Offered by: Timeless Intaglio – Rare Prints, Maps & Books

Description
This hand colored stipple engraving entitled "Cactus Opuntia Polyanthos, Cierge Raquette Multiflore" by Pierre-Joseph Redouté, Plate 59 from his illustrated publication 'Plantarum Historia Succulentarum ou Histoire des Plantes Grasses', published in Paris in 1799. Redoute was a pioneer of the stipple engraving technique, which he used to create this image. It involves utilizing a series of small dots worked into a copper plate rather than the more common lines. These dots can be made smaller or thicker depending on the degree of opacity the artist intends for various areas of the print. When inked and applied to paper, this allows for a greater portion of the paper to be seen, which accentuates the appearance of luminosity of the subject the artist is creating. Different color inks are used in the printing process, a time consuming technique known as "a la poupee". The engraving is then finished with watercolor to further enhance the beauty and realism of the print subject.

This engraving of a flowering cactus is presented in a double mat; white outer mat and heather green inner mat.The mat measures 20" x 16" and the sheet measures 19.5" x 13.38". There are wide margins with a few short tears and chips along the the right and upper edges, which are all covered by the mat. There are small spots predominantly in the margins, but a few are present in the image area, but the print is otherwise in very good condition. There is another Redoute flowering cactus listed on 1stdibs, LU117326854582. The pair would make an attractive display grouping.

Pierre-Joseph Redouté (1759-1840), was a painter and botanist originally from Belgium, who pursued his extremely successful artistic career in France. He is well known for his watercolor paintings of roses, lilies and other flowers and their subsequent folio-sized, color stipple engravings. Some believe him to be the greatest botanical illustrator of all time. Redouté was a favorite of the French royal court at the time and of the post French revolution aristocracy. He was an official court artist of Queen Marie Antoinette and his works continued to in demand during and after the French Revolution and Reign of Terror. He combined great artistic skills with a pleasing, ingratiating personality which assisted him with his influential patrons. After the fall of the French monarchy, he was a favorite Empress Joséphine, Napoleon Bonaparte's wife and later by his second wife Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma. The wife of Louis Philippe I, the last king of France, Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily, was also a patron.

More Information

Documentation:	Signed
Origin:	France
Period:	18th Century
Condition:	Good.
Creation Date:	1799
Styles / Movements:	Other
Incollect Reference #:	578814

Dimensions

W.	17.25 in;	H.	21.25 in;	D.	1.13 in;
W.	43.82 cm;	H.	53.98 cm;	D.	2.87 cm;

Message from Seller:

Timeless Intaglio is an online gallery of rare and collectable antiquarian prints, maps and books. Although we specialize in all forms of vintage printed works on paper, the majority were created with the intaglio method of transferring ink from a plate, usually copper, to paper with a technique utilizing pressure generated by a press. Email us directly: rbreiman@timelessintaglio.com