Magnificent Books, Manuscripts and Drawings from the Collection of Frederick 2nd Lord Hesketh

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Lot 86
  • 86

Pierre-Joseph Redouté

Estimate
30,000 - 40,000 GBP
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Description

  • Pierre-Joseph Redouté
  • Rosa ventenatiana;Rosa rubiginosa aculeatissima

  • Both watercolour over pencil on vellum, a) with touches of gum arabic, on vellum prepared white;
    each signed in brown ink, lower left: P.J. Redouté.
    a) bears faint numbering in pencil, lower right: 24;
    the mount inscribed in gold: Rosa Ventenatiana. and with numbering in pencil: 48

    b) the mount inscribed in gold: Rosa rubiginosa aculeatissima. and numbered twice in pencil: 124

Literature

P.-J. Redouté and C.-A. Thory, Les Roses, Paris 1817-24:
a) vol. III, pp. 83-84, engraved by Victor;
b) vol. II, pp. 97-98, engraved by Chapuy

Condition

a) Laid down on mount. There are a series of faint diagonal lines leading from the centre of the lower edge, which appear to be coming through from the verso. Some slight discolouration at the edges from where the sheet has been glued on the verso. A very faint streak of watercolour near the upper left corner, presumably contemporary to the drawing. Otherwise the sheet is clear and the watercolour strong and fresh. b) Laid down on mount. Slight discolouration at the margins, from where sheet glued down. There is a very faint light yellow fox mark near the lower left corner. Some slight surface dirt, but this appears to have been caused by the artist's pencil, rather than having occured later. Otherwise in good condition, the watercolour strong.
"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."

Catalogue Note

One of the 'Frankfurt roses', Rosa Ventenatiana was probably found by and named after Étienne Pierre Ventenat, a botanist friend of the Empress Joséphine.  Redouté collaborated with Ventenat on two occasions, providing illustrations for his Description des plantes nouvelles et peu connues... of 1799 and his account of Joséphine's garden, Le Jardin de Malmaison, of 1803. 
The turbinate hips of Rosa Ventenatiana are very distinctive.  It is still in cultivation, and is close to the modern Rosa 'Francofurtana'.

Rosa Rubiginosa Aculeatissima is a remarkably prickly form of the popular sweet-brier rose and would have been regarded by Redouté as an unusual curiosity.  It is still occasionally found in the wild today.