Narcissus Radiatus

By Pierre-Joseph Redouté

An outstanding authentic botanical stipple engraving of Narcissus Radiatus (otherwise referred to as Star Narcissus), executed by none other than "The Raphael of Flowers" himself, Pierre-Joseph Redouté. This spectacular engraving is from one of the volumes in Redouté’s famous eight-volume opus, entitled Les Liliacées (published between 1802 and 1816).

This engraving was done under the sponsorship of Empress Josephine Bonaparte in order to record the exotic plants grown at her legendary Malmaison Gardens. It depicts one of Redouté's great stipple engraving methods, which involves the use of tiny dots rather than harsh lines, giving the engraving its unsurpassed softness of line, delicate colors, and exactitude.