Artwork
Rosa Indica Stelligera
Rosa Indica Stelligera 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
Rosa Indica Stelligera is a botanical print produced by Henry Joseph Redouté in 1820. It belongs to a series documenting cultivated roses, executed with precision and care. The work is part of the permanent collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is preserved as an example of 19th-century scientific illustration.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a specific variety of cultivated rose, Rosa indica stelligera, noted for its layered petals and delicate structure. Rather than serving as mere decoration, the image functions as a botanical record, capturing the plant’s form for scientific study and horticultural reference during a period of intense interest in plant classification.
Technique & Style
Redouté employed fine line engraving and hand-coloring to render the rose with botanical accuracy. His technique emphasizes clarity over ornamentation, using subtle gradations of tone and precise contours to distinguish petal texture and vein structure. The composition is centered and uncluttered, prioritizing scientific readability over aesthetic flourish.
History & Provenance
Created during Redouté’s later career, the print emerged from his long-standing association with European botanical institutions. It was likely produced for a published flora or private collection. The work entered The Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through documented acquisition, reflecting its recognized value in the history of botanical art.
Context
In the early 19th century, European gardens were expanding with exotic species imported from Asia and the Americas. Redouté’s illustrations supported this surge in botanical curiosity, serving both scientific communities and aristocratic patrons. His work bridged art and taxonomy, contributing to the formal documentation of plant diversity during the age of Enlightenment.
Legacy
Redouté’s illustrations remain referenced in botanical archives for their fidelity and technical discipline. Though not widely exhibited, prints like Rosa Indica Stelligera continue to inform studies in the history of science and visual culture, exemplifying how art served as a tool for empirical observation before the advent of photography.
Artist & collection
Artist
Henry Joseph Redouté (1766–1852) was a French artist, born in Saint-Hubert.
