Pierre-Joseph Redouté
The Raphael of Flowers
Twenty years after the death of Joseph Banks, the "Raphael of flowers," Pierre-Joseph Redouté died.
He was known for his watercolors of roses and lilies. He's often referred to as the greatest botanical illustrator of all time.
He was an official court draftsman to Queen Marie Antoinette. One evening around midnight, she summoned him to appear before her and she asked him to paint her a cactus.
He also became a favorite of Josephine Bonaparte and his paintings of her flowers at Malmaison are among his finest works.
This post was featured onThe Daily Gardener podcast:
helping gardeners find their roots,
one story at a time
Pierre-Joseph Redouté
