Swamp Lily

By Pierre-Joseph Redouté

One of the greatest illustrations produced during the time of Enlightenment, this splendid folio print shows the elegance of the Swamp Lily (Crinum Erubescens). This artwork was created by the renowned "Raphael of Flowers" Pierre-Joseph Redouté and comes from his masterpiece called "Les Liliacées," which was published from 1802 to 1816. The lily shown on the print was taken from the famous garden of Malmaison under the personal patronage of Empress Josephine Bonaparte.

The print is an outstanding example of the stipple engraving technique invented and mastered by Redouté. It creates an amazing effect of smooth tonal transition using dots instead of lines. In great condition, the print is additionally colored in watercolor paint and depicts elegant recurved petals of this flower along with its stunning pink-purple filaments.