Sansevieria Zeylanica

By Pierre-Joseph Redouté

Stipple engraving with exquisite coloring from Les Liliacées, considered the greatest work by "the Raphael of Flowers," Pierre-Joseph Redouté. Printed in Paris by Langlois, between 1802-1816, this is a fine example of the innovative color printing technique employed by Redouté, which was created by applying multiple colors to one copperplate using a rag (à la poupée).

A beautiful botanical illustration of Sansevieria Zeylanica, now commonly called the snake plant or bowstring hemp, native to Sri Lanka (Ceylon). Redouté brilliantly depicts the upright and sword-shaped foliage, distinguished by their dark green wavy cross-banding, against the elegant and pale green and white flowering spike. Renowned for being patronized by the Empress Josephine Bonaparte at Malmaison, Redouté creates an artistic neoclassical interpretation of this structural and succulent perennial. A superb choice for any antique prints collector or interior designer.