Artwork
Les Roses: Rosa Longifolia
Les Roses: Rosa Longifolia is a print by the Romanticist artist Henry Joseph Redouté. It dates from 1820 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Les Roses : Rosa Longifolia is a botanical print executed by Henry Joseph Redouté in 1820. The image presents a solitary stem bearing three pink roses, each rendered with soft white margins and vivid yellow centers, set against an unadorned background that isolates the subject. The work is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on the Rosa Longifolia, a long‑stemmed rose species prized for its elongated foliage and delicate blossoms. By isolating the flower and its accompanying leaves, the print emphasizes the plant’s formal qualities—petal form, coloration, and leaf venation—serving both aesthetic appreciation and scientific identification.
Technique & Style
Redouté employed meticulous line work and fine stippling to convey the texture of each leaf vein and the subtle gradations of the rose petals. The print’s restrained palette of pink, white, and yellow, combined with a plain backdrop, heightens the realism of the botanical subject while maintaining the clarity typical of early‑19th‑century scientific illustration.
History & Provenance
Created in 1820, the print reflects Redouté’s reputation as a pre‑eminent horticultural illustrator of his era. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition (date of acquisition not specified), where it remains accessible for study alongside the museum’s broader collection of botanical works.
Context
Redouté’s output coincided with a period of heightened interest in plant taxonomy and the cultivation of ornamental gardens across Europe. His prints, including this depiction of Rosa Longifolia, were often used by botanists and gardeners as reference material, bridging artistic skill and scientific documentation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Henry Joseph Redouté (1766–1852) was a French artist, born in Saint-Hubert.
