‘Empress Josephine’ or Frankfort Rose (Rosa turbinata), from Claude-Antoine Thory, Les Roses 1817 - 1824

This botanical illustration was created by Pierre-Joseph Redouté, celebrated for his exquisite depictions of roses, published in the early 19th century. Redouté’s work, like this depiction of the ‘Empress Josephine’ rose, involved a complex interplay of science and aesthetics, combining meticulous observation with the refined techniques of watercolor and stipple engraving. The artist painstakingly transferred his drawings to copper plates, using a tool called a burin to create thousands of tiny dots, that when inked and printed, captured the subtle gradations of color and delicate textures of the rose petals. The prints were then hand-colored, and the resulting image reflects the vogue for natural history studies at the time, catering to aristocratic patrons. The creation of such artworks was, therefore, embedded in the social and economic structures of its era, where botanical accuracy and artistic skill combined to produce luxury objects. By appreciating the process behind Redouté’s botanical illustrations, we see how they transcend mere decoration to become significant cultural artifacts.