Pierre-Joseph Redoute Art

Pierre-Joseph Redouté (Born 1759) was born at Saint-Hubert. He was one of the most celebrated flower painters of all time. He was an engraver, illustrator and botanical artist. He was born into a painters' family - his father was a painter, and so were his two brothers - who earned a living by producing decorative and church paintings. At an early age, Redouté painted natural subjects. In 1775, he helped decorate the Karlsburg, enthusiastically studying the Old Masters’ paintings of (particularly those of van Huysum). At the age of 23, he went to Paris, where he got a job at the "Theatre des Italiens" as a decorative painter. In his spare time, he used to draw in the Jardin du Roi. His pieces of art caught the attention of Louis L'Héritier Charles, the botanist, who encouraged him to produce structural studies (anatomical). He also introduced him to the techniques of dissection and offered him free access to his plant collection and botanical library. Meanwhile, his elder brother had become a designer of stage-set in Paris, and Redouté followed suit in 1782. By then, however, his main interest was in botanical illustration. He loved art and said while he’s at it he felt like he was in his own little world - a world where nothing else mattered. From 1822 onwards, the artist occupied a simple position as a painting teacher until he died. He succeeded Spaendonck, and often discussed his art in front of almost 200 students in the large hall of the Buffon gallery. His art is still popular, especially the framed Pierre-Joseph Redouté art.