The Book of Flowers (Taschen 40th Anniversary)

The finest botanical treasures of Pierre-Joseph Redouté

Flower painter Pierre-Joseph Redouté (1759–1840) devoted himself exclusively to capturing the diversity of flowering plants in watercolor paintings which were then published as copper engravings, with careful botanical descriptions. The darling of wealthy Parisian patrons including Napoleon’s wife Josephine, he was dubbed “the Raphael of flowers,” and is regarded to this day as a master of botanical illustration.

This collection brings Taschen's best-selling XL-sized edition to a smaller, more convenient format, still gathering some of the finest color engravings from Redouté’s illustrations of Roses, Lilies, and Choix des plus belles fleurs et quelques branches des plus beaux fruits (Selection of the Most Beautiful Blooms and Branches with the Finest Fruits). Offering a vibrant overview of Redouté’s admixture of accuracy and beauty, it is also a privileged glimpse into the magnificent gardens and greenhouses of a bygone Paris.

Part of the Taschen 40th Anniversary Edition series—deluxe reprints of beloved Taschen titles from the art publisher's 40-year history. Bound in durable hardcover with more than 500 pages (and weighing in at more than 2 lb.), these portable art books are lifelong companions for artists, scholars, and aesthetes.