Flesh-Colored Sword Lily

By Pierre-Joseph Redouté

Embody the regal splendor of 19th century French horticulture with this exceptional replica of Redouté’s "Flesh-Colored Sword Lily" (Gladiolus Carneus, also known as Glaïeul Couleur de Chair).

Published between 1802-1816, this artwork was originally created under the royal patronage of none other than Empress Joséphine Bonaparte, and Redouté painstakingly depicted these unique and exotic species in her magnificent gardens at the Chateau de Malmaison.

Renowned throughout history as the "Raphael of Flowers", Redouté mastered the intricate art of stipple engraving. Stipple engraving is characterized by its use of an interlocking network of tiny dots rather than lines, which allowed for light to pass through the ink, thus mimicking the translucent appearance of a real flower petal.

As evidenced by the plate, Redouté combined the dramatic shape of the pale pink trumpet blooms with small anatomical diagrams of the plant at the bottom of the image, creating a layout that beautifully merges the highest standards of scientific illustration with artistic finesse.

On a crisp white background, this elegant flower composition with its delicate sword-shaped foliage and pastel pink petals provides a perfect complement to any contemporary or traditional interior décor.