Pierre-Joseph Redouté

P.-J. Redouté and C.-A. Thory, Les Roses, Paris 1817-24, vol. III, pp. 21-22, engraved by Victor

Laid down on mount at edges of the sheet, which has caused a slight discolouration at the margins. A small pale yellow (glue?) stain at the upper left corner. Otherwise the sheet is clear and the watercolour is in very good condition.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The first of a line of thornless climbing roses, bred by the unscrupulous revolutionary politician, Jean-François Boursault-Malherbe (1752-1842).  Following the revolution, Boursault obtained the licences to run a rather amusing combination of Paris's sewers and gaming-houses, which earned him a substantial fortune.  With this, he created a magnificent garden of rare plants in Pigalle, introducing to France a number of roses, such as Rosa multiflora in 1808 and the Rosa banksiae in 1818-20.  In 1827 Boursault was one of the founding members of the Société royale d'horticulture de Paris (now known as the Société nationale d'horticulture de France).

In the engraved design, there are minor differences in the arrangement of the rosebuds at the top of the sheet: the pair of two buds at the upper right was reduced to one, placed closer to the petals below, and the rosebud to the far left was lowered, to make a tighter arrangement with the two buds next to it.