Details
VENTENAT, Étienne-Pierre (1757-1808) – Pierre Joseph REDOUTE (1759-1840)
Jardin de la Malmaison. Paris: Crapelet and Herhan, 1803-1804 [-1805].
First edition of Redouté's illustrations of the plants in the gardens of Malmaison. ‘This series of one hundred and twenty coloured plates, plus … Les Liliacées, constitute the highest peak of Redouté's artistic and botanical achievement; both books are among the most important monuments of botanical illustration ever to be published … This magnificent publication brings Redouté to the top of his artistic career and amply justifies his fame as one of the most eminent botanical illustrators of all time’ (Stafleu in Lawrence Redoutéana p. 21). Joséphine Bonaparte was particularly devoted to flowers, and assembled in her gardens at Malmaison one of the world's finest collection of flora. Redouté entered her employment in 1798, the same year as the purchase of her estate of Malmaison, just west of Paris. To enable her to collect plants on a grand scale Joséphine employed a number of distinguished botanists such as Cels and Blaikie to procure specimens, and the task of cataloguing and publishing the collection was overseen by the eminent botanist, and librarian of the Panthéon, Étienne Pierre Ventenat. Ventenat was commissioned to write the text for this, the first work on the Malmaison collection, and Redouté undertook the drawings of the plant specimens. He used his newly perfected technique of colour stipple engraving, derived from the work of Francesco Bartolozzi in London, to produce the plates. The work was issued over a three year period in 20 parts. Nissen BBI 2049; Great Flower Books (1990) p.35 AND 147; Dunthorne 255; Stafleu and Cowan 16.007; I. MacPhail in Lawrence Redoutéana p.47; W.T. Stearn, ‘Ventenat’s “Description des Plantes … De J.M. Cels,” “Jardin de la Malmaison” and “Choix des Plantes"’ in J. Soc. Bibl. Nat Hist. I:200 (1939).
2 volumes, broadsheets (530 x 345mm). Half-titles, dedication to Empress Joséphine, 2 pp. table, 1 p. errata, 120 fine stipple-engraved plates after Pierre-Joseph Redouté, printed in colours and finished by hand, by J.B. Dien, P.F. Legrand, L.J. Allais and others (some light staining and spotting to titles, early leaves and plates, many upper plate numerals shaved, 6 plates with part of imprint slightly shaved, tiny marginal tear to text leaf of pl. 72). Green morocco, gilt, covers with broad rule and floral roll-tool borders, spines gilt in seven compartments, raised bands, lettered in two, the others elaborately tooled, gilt inner dentelles, g.e. by J. Wright (extremities only just faintly rubbed). Provenance: Beriah Botfield (1807-1863, bibliophile; sale Christie’s 30 March 1994, lot 91).)
Special notice
No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium.
Details
VENTENAT, Étienne-Pierre (1757-1808) – Pierre Joseph REDOUTE (1759-1840)
Jardin de la Malmaison. Paris: Crapelet and Herhan, 1803-1804 [-1805].
First edition of Redouté's illustrations of the plants in the gardens of Malmaison. ‘This series of one hundred and twenty coloured plates, plus … Les Liliacées, constitute the highest peak of Redouté's artistic and botanical achievement; both books are among the most important monuments of botanical illustration ever to be published … This magnificent publication brings Redouté to the top of his artistic career and amply justifies his fame as one of the most eminent botanical illustrators of all time’ (Stafleu in Lawrence Redoutéana p. 21). Joséphine Bonaparte was particularly devoted to flowers, and assembled in her gardens at Malmaison one of the world's finest collection of flora. Redouté entered her employment in 1798, the same year as the purchase of her estate of Malmaison, just west of Paris. To enable her to collect plants on a grand scale Joséphine employed a number of distinguished botanists such as Cels and Blaikie to procure specimens, and the task of cataloguing and publishing the collection was overseen by the eminent botanist, and librarian of the Panthéon, Étienne Pierre Ventenat. Ventenat was commissioned to write the text for this, the first work on the Malmaison collection, and Redouté undertook the drawings of the plant specimens. He used his newly perfected technique of colour stipple engraving, derived from the work of Francesco Bartolozzi in London, to produce the plates. The work was issued over a three year period in 20 parts. Nissen BBI 2049; Great Flower Books (1990) p.35 AND 147; Dunthorne 255; Stafleu and Cowan 16.007; I. MacPhail in Lawrence Redoutéana p.47; W.T. Stearn, ‘Ventenat’s “Description des Plantes … De J.M. Cels,” “Jardin de la Malmaison” and “Choix des Plantes"’ in J. Soc. Bibl. Nat Hist. I:200 (1939).
2 volumes, broadsheets (530 x 345mm). Half-titles, dedication to Empress Joséphine, 2 pp. table, 1 p. errata, 120 fine stipple-engraved plates after Pierre-Joseph Redouté, printed in colours and finished by hand, by J.B. Dien, P.F. Legrand, L.J. Allais and others (some light staining and spotting to titles, early leaves and plates, many upper plate numerals shaved, 6 plates with part of imprint slightly shaved, tiny marginal tear to text leaf of pl. 72). Green morocco, gilt, covers with broad rule and floral roll-tool borders, spines gilt in seven compartments, raised bands, lettered in two, the others elaborately tooled, gilt inner dentelles, g.e. by J. Wright (extremities only just faintly rubbed). Provenance: Beriah Botfield (1807-1863, bibliophile; sale Christie’s 30 March 1994, lot 91).)
Special notice
No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium.
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
Try LotSearch and its premium features for 7 days - without any costs!
Be notified automatically about new items in upcoming auctions.
Create an alert.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
