Pierre-Joseph Redoute from Librairie Thomas-Scheler
Pierre-Joseph Redoute from Librairie Thomas-Scheler.
By Michael Stillman
We recently received a beautiful catalogue from Librairie Thomas-Scheler of Paris entitled Pierre-Joseph Redoute Le Raphael des fleures (the Raphael of flowers). This is not a typical bookseller's catalogue. There are no prices and it is somewhat vague as to exactly what is being offered. Nonetheless, it is filled with illustrations from Redoute's works, a biography of his long and fascinating career, and descriptions of his notable works. Those who appreciate the finest of flower illustrations will undoubtedly know Redoute well, and will be most interested in viewing this catalogue, perhaps wishing to check with Thomas-Scheler for further details. While Redoute is best known for his drawings of roses, he drew many types of flowers and his work was always magnificent.
Pierre Joseph Redoute, born in Luxembourg, moved to Paris as a young man to find work as an artist. That he did at the Jardin du Roi (King's Garden), the country's major botanical gardens. His exceptional skills at illustration continued to move his career forward. Redoute could dissect a flower and portray it with exceptional accuracy and beauty. His talents earned him the job as official artist for Queen Marie Antoinette in the 1780s. Of course, events did not go well for the Queen or her King during the next decade, as the French Revolution took the royal pair and just about everyone associated with them to prison or the guillotine. Redoute was even called in to paint a night-blooming cactus for the Queen while she was in prison. Yet despite this connection to royalty, Redoute was able to fade into the background during the Reign of Terror, quietly continuing his painting unscathed.
He would emerge again at the top of society at the turn of the century when Napoleon's Empress Josephine would summon Redoute to be the official artist at the gardens of her estate at Malmaison. This relationship would remain for the rest of her life, and led to the first of his two greatest works, Les Liliacees (lilies). This was probably the best time of his life. His illustrations were recognized for the masterpieces they were, and his connection to the Empress paid off financially as well. Redoute purchased a lovely country home, fine furniture, and he and his family led a very comfortable life. However, after Josephine's death in 1814, the funds began to dry up. Redoute would remain connected with the restored monarchies that succeeded Napoleon, and continue to be honored. In 1824, his Les Roses was completed, the greatest of all of his works. He was named to the Legion of Honor the following year, and later received a major award from the King of Belgium. However, the pay was never quite as good, and Redoute, who tended to live lavishly when he had the money with little planning for the future, battled financial difficulties for the remainder of his life. He spent much of that time teaching others to paint. Pierre-Joseph Redoute died in his studio in 1840 at the age of 80.
Koller Auctions Books & Autographs 18 September 2024
Koller, Sep. 18: Cowper, William. Anatomia corporum humanorum ab excellentissimis… Utrecht, 1750. CHF 25,000 to 40,000
Koller, Sep. 18: Bell, Thomas. A Monograph of the Testudinata. London [1836-1842]. CHF 20,000 to 30,000.
Koller, Sep. 18: Gould, John. A monograph of the Trochilidae, or family of humming-birds [and] Supplement completed after the authors death…, London [1849-]1861 and [1880-]1887. CHF 50,000 to 80,000.
Koller Auctions Books & Autographs 18 September 2024
Koller, Sep. 18: Gould, John. The birds of New Guinea and the adjacent Papuan Islands, including many new species recently discovered in Australia. CHF 50,000 to 80,000.
Koller, Sep. 18: Levaillant, François. Histoire naturelle des oiseaux de paradis et des rolliers, suivie de celle des toucans et des barbus. Paris [1801-]1806. CHF 40,000 to 60,000.
Koller, Sep. 18: Pfinzing, Melchior. Die geverlicheiten und einsteils der geschichten des loblichen streytparen…, Nürnberg, 1517. CHF 40,000 to 60,000.
Il Ponte, Sep. 24-25: HAMILTON, Sir William - Campi Phlegraei. Napoli: 1779. € 50,000 - 80,000
Il Ponte, Sep. 24-25: KIRCHER, Athanasius - Turris Babel. Amsterdam: 1679. € 3,000 - 5,000
Il Ponte, Sep. 24-25: EDWARDS, George.London - Gleanings of Natural History. Londra: 1758-1764. € 7,000 - 10,000
Il Ponte, Sep. 24-25: HEVELIUS, Johannes - Cometographia. Danzica: 1668. € 20,000 - 30,000
Il Ponte, Sep. 24-25: KUPKA, Frantisek - Quatre histoires de blanc et noir. Parigi: 1926. € 10,000 - 15,000
Old World Auctions (Sept 11): Lot 732. Early Announcement of Continental Congress' Declaration of Independence (1776) Est. $12,000 - $15,000
Old World Auctions (Sept 11): Lot 361. One of Ortelius' Most Decorative Maps in Full Contemporary Color (1585) Est. $9,500 - $12,000
Old World Auctions (Sept 11): Lot 55. Early Edition of One of the Most Important 16th Century Maps of the New World (1545) Est. $6,000 - $7,500
Old World Auctions (Sept 11): Lot 27. Fascinating Japanese Satirical Map of the World Published After WWI (1924) Est. $2,750 - $3,500
Old World Auctions (Sept 11): Lot 637. Complete Example of De Bry's Petits Voyages, Part VIII (1606) Est. $4,750 - $5,500
Old World Auctions (Sept 11): Lot 50. Extremely Rare Uncut Sheet from Sylvanus's 1511 Edition of Ptolemy's Geographia (1511) Est. $2,000 - $2,300
Old World Auctions (Sept 11): Lot 399. One of the Most Desired Maps of Ireland by John Speed (1610) Est. $2,750 - $3,500
Old World Auctions (Sept 11): Lot 689. Pictorial Map of Melbourne in the Style of MacDonald Gill (1934) Est. $900 - $1,100
Old World Auctions (Sept 11): Lot 652. Blaeu's Carte-a-Figures Map of Africa in Full Contemporary Color (1663) Est. $3,000 - $3,750
Old World Auctions (Sept 11): Lot 729. Hand-Colored Image of David Handing the Letter to Uriah (1518) Est. $1,000 - $1,300
Old World Auctions (Sept 11): Lot 533. Eight-Volume Set Recounting Travels of Anacharsis in Greece (1789) Est. $800 - $950
Dominic Winter Auctioneers September 11 Printed Books, Maps & Manuscripts, The Polydore Vergil bound for Queen Mary I
Dominic Winter, Sep. 11: Exquemelin (Alexandre Olivier). The History of the Bucaniers of America..., 4 parts in one, 3rd edition, 1704. £1,000-1,500
Dominic Winter, Sep. 11: Greenough (George Bellos). A Physical and Geological Map of England & Wales..., Geological Society, July 1865. £5,000-8,000
Dominic Winter, Sep. 11: Illuminated Psalter. Manuscript Psalter with Calendar, Flanders or North-East France, late 13th century. £7,000-10,000
Dominic Winter Auctioneers September 11 Printed Books, Maps & Manuscripts, The Polydore Vergil bound for Queen Mary I
Dominic Winter, Sep. 11: Book of Hours. Illuminated manuscript on vellum, Use of Rome, in Latin, Florence, c. 1470s. £3,000-5,000
Dominic Winter, Sep. 11: Henry VIII (King of England). Assertio septem sacramentorum adversus Martinum Lutherum, Antwerp: Michiel Hillen, 1522. £3,000-5,000
Dominic Winter, Sep. 11: Binding for Queen Mary I of England and Ireland. Polydori Vergilii Urbinatis Anglicae..., 1555. £20,000-30,000
Dominic Winter Auctioneers September 11 Printed Books, Maps & Manuscripts, The Polydore Vergil bound for Queen Mary I
Dominic Winter, Sep. 11: Llwyd (Humphrey). The Breviary of Britayne..., 1st edition in English, 1573. William Lambarde's copy. £2,000-3,000
Dominic Winter, Sep. 11: Embroidered Binding. The Whole Book of Psalmes..., Imprinted for the Company of Stationers, 1634. £700-1,000
Dominic Winter, Sep. 11: Astronomy Manuscript. [Shakerley, Jeremy (1626-c.1655). Tabulae Britannicae, the British tables…], late 17th c. £1,000-1,500
Dominic Winter Auctioneers September 11 Printed Books, Maps & Manuscripts, The Polydore Vergil bound for Queen Mary I
![<b>Koller, Sep. 18:</b> Bell, Thomas. A Monograph of the Testudinata. London [1836-1842]. CHF 20,000 to 30,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/29dc9a36-584c-476d-bc08-834bc3d3902d.png "<b>Koller, Sep. 18:</b> Bell, Thomas. A Monograph of the Testudinata. London [1836-1842]. CHF 20,000 to 30,000.")
![<b>Koller, Sep. 18:</b> Gould, John. A monograph of the Trochilidae, or family of humming-birds [and] Supplement completed after the authors death…, London [1849-]1861 and [1880-]1887. CHF 50,000 to 80,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/d1c7f9bc-1bd9-43a2-9cd9-fa2e0a89d50f.png "<b>Koller, Sep. 18:</b> Gould, John. A monograph of the Trochilidae, or family of humming-birds [and] Supplement completed after the authors death…, London [1849-]1861 and [1880-]1887. CHF 50,000 to 80,000.")
![<b>Koller, Sep. 18:</b> Levaillant, François. Histoire naturelle des oiseaux de paradis et des rolliers, suivie de celle des toucans et des barbus. Paris [1801-]1806. CHF 40,000 to 60,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/dcac6725-5a79-4a9a-8172-9a5e10ccb75b.png "<b>Koller, Sep. 18:</b> Levaillant, François. Histoire naturelle des oiseaux de paradis et des rolliers, suivie de celle des toucans et des barbus. Paris [1801-]1806. CHF 40,000 to 60,000.")
![<b>Dominic Winter, Sep. 11:</b> Astronomy Manuscript. [Shakerley, Jeremy (1626-c.1655). Tabulae Britannicae, the British tables…], late 17th c. £1,000-1,500](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/380fa981-a81a-4cee-8a47-9deac6721ee2.jpg "<b>Dominic Winter, Sep. 11:</b> Astronomy Manuscript. [Shakerley, Jeremy (1626-c.1655). Tabulae Britannicae, the British tables…], late 17th c. £1,000-1,500")
![<b>Dominic Winter, Sep. 11:</b> Vellucent Art Nouveau Binding [Book of Common Prayer] by Herbert Granville Fell, 1900. £1,000-1,500](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/1e4d8ff8-e737-4e16-8a64-bc917748b937.jpg "<b>Dominic Winter, Sep. 11:</b> Vellucent Art Nouveau Binding [Book of Common Prayer] by Herbert Granville Fell, 1900. £1,000-1,500")
