Pierre Joseph Redoute

Artist Biography

Pierre Joseph Redoute was born in Belgium in 1759 and studied under his father Charles. He moved to Paris and pursued a career creating art, prints and posters; he also taught Marie-Antoinette and in 1805 was named by the Empress Josephine as her Personal Flower Painter. He was a teacher at the Academy of Sciences and in 1825 was decorated with the Legion d'Honneur.

His name is synonymous with paintings of roses, which were always executed with remarkable delicacy and precision, evident in all his art, prints and posters. He created more than six thousand water-colours for the collection of the Natural History Museum in Paris and created black and white botanical illustrations for scientific treatises.

As Professor at the Jardin des Plantes, he also wrote and illustrated several books on botany. Redouté's art, prints and posters are now so sought after that collections have reached prices in excess of £1 million at auction.

Pierre Joseph Redoute Art, Prints and Posters Collection