Created from high-quality wood, milled with simple clean lines and presented with a satin finish. Includes an off-white mount that will not discolour or fade with age. - Simple, elegant design - Premium, fine art paper with a gently textured surface - Handmade by specialist picture framers - FSC certified off-white mat / window mount - Delivered ready for hanging

"Choix des plus belles fleurs et des plus beaux fruits (1833)," translated as "Selection of the Most Beautiful Flowers and the Most Beautiful Fruits," is an exquisitely detailed botanical illustration by Pierre Joseph Redouté, often hailed as the "Raphael of Flowers." This artwork is a part of a larger compilation published in the 1830s, showcasing Redouté's mastery in capturing the delicate beauty and intricate details of various botanical specimens.

Structure and Composition:
The composition of this particular painting is balanced and meticulously organized, reflecting Redouté's scientific background and artistic prowess. Each flower and fruit is placed with a sense of deliberate harmony, creating an aesthetically pleasing yet highly informative visual experience.

Details:
The painting features a variety of flowers and fruits, each rendered with stunning precision. The colors are both vivid and subtle, capturing the true essence of each plant. The velvety texture of the roses, the translucency of the grape skins, and the intricate veins of the leaves are all meticulously represented. The interplay of light and shadow gives a three-dimensional quality to the subjects, making them appear almost lifelike.

Location:
Many of Pierre Joseph Redouté's original artworks are held in prestigious institutions, including the Louvre Museum in Paris and the Royal Library of Belgium. However, due to the nature of botanical prints, individual plates from "Choix des plus belles fleurs et des plus beaux fruits" may be found in various specialized collections, private collections, and botanical libraries around the world.

Historical Context and Artistic Career:
Pierre Joseph Redouté (1759–1840) was a Belgian artist and botanist, renowned for his watercolor paintings of flowers. His career spans the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a period during which botanical illustration was a crucial tool for scientific documentation and communication.

Redouté worked extensively with notable botanists and was commissioned by various royalty, including Marie Antoinette and Empress Joséphine, Napoleon's first wife. "Choix des plus belles fleurs et des plus beaux fruits" represents a culmination of his experiences and skills, blending scientific accuracy with artistic elegance.

Artistic Movements:
Redouté is often associated with the Age of Enlightenment and the subsequent period of scientific discovery, where detailed documentation and categorization of the natural world were paramount. His work reflects the intersection of art and science, contributing significantly to both fields.

- Techniques: Redouté mastered the stipple engraving technique, which allowed him to produce highly detailed and delicate images. This technique involved using small dots to create gradients of tone and color, a method particularly suited to his botanical subjects.

- Legacy: Redouté's work has had a lasting impact on both botanical art and scientific illustration. His illustrations are still referenced and admired for their precision and beauty.

- Publication: "Choix des plus belles fleurs et des plus beaux fruits" was part of a larger series of botanical works, including the famous "Les Liliacées" and "Les Roses," which are regarded as some of the finest botanical illustrations ever produced.

This painting, along with the entire collection it belongs to, stands as a testament to Pierre Joseph Redouté's unmatched ability to fuse art and science, capturing the natural world's beauty in a way that continues to inspire and inform generations.