Gallery of Iris plates in Redoute's Les Liliaceae
Iris Susiana plate 18 | Iris Florentina' plate 23 | Iris Tuberosa plate 28 | |||
Belamcanda Plate 121 | Iris Fimbriata Plate 151 | Iris Persica plate 189 | Iris Scorpioides Plate 211 | ||
Iris Sibirica Plate 420 | Iris Sibirica' Plate 438 | Iris Sisyrinchium Plate 458 | Iris Triflora Plate 481 | ||
Iris Xiphioides Plate 212 | Iris Pseudacorus Plate 235 | Iris Monnieri' plate 236 | Iris Pratensis Plate 237 | ||
Iris Pumila Plate 261 | Iris Pumila Plate 262 | Iris Lutescens Plate 263 | Iris Variegata Plate 292 | ||
Iris Virescens plate 295 | Iris Arenaria Plate 296 | iris graminea Plate 299 | Iris Swertii' Plate 306 | ||
Iris Germanica Plate 309 | Iris Stenogyna' Plate 310 | Iris Lurida Plate 318 | Iris Amoena Plate 336 | ||
Iris Xiphium Plate 337 | Iris Sambucina' Plate 310 | Iris Versicolor Plate 318 | Iris Curtopetala Plate 340 | ||
Iris Spuria Plate 349 | Iris ochroleuca' Plate 350 | Iris Foetidissima Plate 318 | Iris Plicata Plate 356 | ||
Iris Squalens Plate 365 | Iris Pallida' Plate 366 | Iris Flavescens Plate 318 | Iris Cristata Plate 376 |
See other Botanical Art
Joseph-Pierre Redoute is often considered one of the best botanical artists. Working over 200 years ago for the Empress Josephine he created Les Liliaceae, produced in 8 tomes between 1805-1816 he depicted 40 Irises that were being grown in the famous garden of the Chateau de Malmaison. While Napolean was spending his time conquering Europe, Josephine was assembling an incredible plant collection. At the time Thomas Jefferson expressed the notion that the greatest act a person could do for their country was to introduce a new useful plant species to cultivation. His thoughts in America echoed in the mind of Josephine and she hired Redoute to document her collections.
Les Liliaceae depicted almost 500 liliaceus plants and the large folios very done life-size. It gives us a great insight into what was available to great estate gardens in that time period. Although a magnificient work there are a couple of minor flaws. Redoute drew the line drawings but to mass produce a number of these books assistants were needed to hand color the drawings. Each book could have some variation from the next depending on the assistant. For example the first Iris depicted, is Susiana. It appears a darker purple than in real life. Even then we had the same type of problems with color that we have with todays photography.
For more information on historic Irises visit the Historic Iris Preservation Society at
-- BobPries - 2014-12-02