Paris in the 17th and 18th century was a hive of creativity and scientific progress,

particularly in the realm of botany. The Jardin du Roi, laid out in 1635, was home
to an ever-expanding collection of flowers, plants and herbs that were delivered
from every corner of the earth, recorded and culitivated into what became an
unparalleled research facility and stunning resource for artists and scientists
alike. Key to its importance was the Collection des Vlins, the archive of paintings
and engravings made of every plant and flower that had come through the
greenhouse door. It was the only one of its kind in the world, and was cultivated
thanks to the creation of a special position for a painter dedicated to
making the exquisitely detailed studies. Foremost among these was Pierre-Joseph
Redout, who worked under the patronage first of the Collection des Vlins, and
later of Empress Josephine Bonaparte, wife of Napoleon, capturing the wonders of
her extraordinary gardens at Malmaison.

Stemless
gentian TASCHEN 2015
The results are stunning. Over a career that lasted to the day he died aged 80,
Redout created delicately precise paintings of the familiar hydrangeas,
peonies, a whole compendium of roses and the more exotic the large monkey
flower, the saucer magnolia, the harlequin flower all brought together in
a gorgeous compendium work fromTaschen. Detailing the rise of Redout and
flower painting in general, and the importance of botanical records for both
science and personal prestige, it is a marvellous wander through the species that
were flooding into Paris at the time, plucked both from nearby French meadows
and far-flung hillsides in Greece, China and South America. So to celebrate the
so-called Raphael of Flowers, we look at some of his beautiful works, and discover
the history and symbolism behind the plants he painted.

Saffron crocus
TASCHEN 2015
Saffron Crocus
The use and popularity of saffron spans more 3,500 years. It has been used for
fragrance, medicine, and, with its bitter taste, for seasoning. It was first used in
Greece and is the most expensive spice in the world.

Broad-leaved
anemone TASCHEN 2015
Broad-leaved Anemone
Anemone blossom stories are mostly about death, and its blossom is often
associated with being forsaken or left behind. The Greek myth goes that at the
death of Adonis, Aphrodite's tears for her lost love fell to the ground, from
which sprung the first anemones. In the Christian tradition, the anemone is a
symbol of the blood that Jesus Christ shed on the cross, which is why bunches of
anemones will often be found on paintings of the crucifixion.

Common lilac
TASCHEN 2015
Lilac
The word "lilac" comes from the Persian, meaning bluish. In the language of
flowers, purple lilacs symbolise the first emotions of love, while white lilacs
represent youthful innocence.

Egyptian blue
lily TASCHEN 2015
Egyptian Blue Lily
The Sacred Blue Lily of the Nile was found scattered over Tutankhamun's body
when the Pharaohs tomb was opened in 1922. Many historians thought it was a
purely symbolic flower, but there is mounting evidence that ancient Egyptians
used it to induce an ecstatic state and hallucinations, as well as it being widely
used as a general remedy for illness.

Tea rose
TASCHEN 2015
Tea Rose
With the symbolic meaning "Ill remember always", the tea rose garnered
its name because the blossoms evoke the scent of a newly-opened sample of
the choicest tea. Empress Josephine was a passionate rose lover and collector
and employed Redout to paint 117 of her roses in his landmark watercolor book,
Les Roses.
Redout: Selection of the Most Beautiful Flowers is out now, published by
Taschen.