Lilium superbum (Superb Lily), 1805
de Gouy; Artist: After Pierre-Joseph Redoutéexpand_more
Color stipple engraving with hand-coloringexpand_more
The Minnich Collection The Ethel Morrison Van Derlip Fundexpand_more P.18,247
Not on Viewexpand_more
Botanical illustrators working in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries devoted themselves to the medicinal qualities of plants and sought to render plant structure and function as precisely as they could. Later, European explorers brought specimens back from exotic locales, and artists carefully reproduced them for an audience fascinated by new discoveries. By the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, artists had shifted their emphasis from scientific illustration to the innate beauty of the plant or flower.
Perhaps the most recognizable name in botanical illustration is the incomparable Pierre-Joseph Redouté (1759-1840). Often called the "Raphael of Flowers," Redouté set a new standard in the field for his sumptuous renditions of single blooms and entire bouquets. Redouté's paintings, like those of other botanical artists, were translated into engravings and painstakingly finished by hand. These exquisite prints, most executed by French printmakers, came to Mia's Department of Prints and Drawings from the collection of Dwight and Helen Minnich, who had a special fondness for botanical and zoological prints.
Details
- Title
- Lilium superbum (Superb Lily)
- Role
- Engraver
- Accession Number
- P.18,247
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Dunthorne 231 Nissen 1597 Hunt 10, 45
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know
Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.