Ventenat, Etienne-Pierre

Jardin de la Malmaison.  Paris: Crapelet for the author, An XI–1803 [–1805]



Folio (20  5/8  x 13  1/2  in.; 523 x 343 mm).  120 fine hand-finished, color-printed stipple engravings after Pierre-Joseph Redouté by J. B. Dien, P. F. Legrand, L. J. Allais, and others, half-title, dedication leaf; index leaf and errata leaf not present; small MHS inked stamp on each plate (not affecting image), occasional minor spotting and soiling, small nick in right margin of plate 111.  Modern brown calf gilt, spine with black morocco lettering-pieces, center panels of nineteenth-century calf gilt covers and dentelles laid down, modern marbled endleaves, nineteenth-century MHS label laid down on front pastedown.

Acquired by the MHS is 1869

Dunthorne 255; Great Flower Books 147; Hunt/Redouteana 12; Nissen, BBI 2049; Pritzel 9734; Stafleu & Cowan 16.007; cf. Oak Spring Flora 61 

Folio (20 5/8 x 13 1/2 in.; 523 x 343 mm). 120 fine hand-finished color-printed stipple engravings after Pierre-Joseph Redoute by J. B. Dien, P. F. Legrand, L. J. Allais, and others, half-title, dedication leaf; index leaf and errata leaf not present; small MHS inked stamp on each plate (not affecting image), occasional minor spotting and soiling, small nick in right margin of plate 111. Modern brown calf gilt, spine with black morocco lettering-pieces, center panels of 19th-century calf gilt covers and dentelles laid down, modern marbled endleaves, 19th-century MHS label laid down on front pastedown.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

First edition of "the great opus of Redouté ... among the most important monuments of botanical illustration ever to be published" (Stafleu in Hunt/Redouteana).  Stafleu writes further that "This series of one hundred and twenty colored plates, plus the series of over five hundred plates in his Les Liliacées, constitute the highest peak of Redoute's artistic and botanical achievement .... They have well-proportioned full-page illustrations which suit the size of the page: the lay-out and relative proportions of paper and drawing are in perfect balance.  The execution of the presswork and of the hand retouching ... is superb .... Les Liliacées ... surpasses in size but only equals in beauty of the Jardin de la Malmaison."  Jardin de la Malmaison was sponsored by the Empress Josephine, and its plates depict specimens from her gardens, which Ventenat praised in his dedication as a conjunction of "the rarest plants of the French soil [and] the sweetest souvenir of the conquests of your illustrious consort."