School of Redoute Botanical Watercolor on Vellum, White and Purple Roses, Early 19th Century French Original, Framed

White and Purple Roses on Vellum

Two rose stems stand side by side against a plain ground, one bearing white petals tinged with pale yellow at the center, the other in deep purple fading toward mauve at the edges. The leaves are rendered in precise detail, showing veins, serrated edges, and subtle shifts from dark green to lighter tones where the light catches them. The watercolor is painted on vellum, which gives the surface a smooth, luminous quality that holds fine detail and soft washes of color without bleeding.

Historical Context

This watercolor belongs to the tradition of French botanical painting established by Pierre-Joseph Redoute (1759-1840), the Belgian-born artist who served as court painter to Marie-Antoinette and later to Empress Josephine at Malmaison. Redoute set the standard for scientific flower painting in Europe, and his published works on roses and lilies shaped botanical illustration throughout the early 1800s. Artists trained in his circle continued to work on vellum using the same techniques of layered watercolor washes and precise botanical observation, producing studies that served both as decorative objects and as records of cultivated plant varieties.

Artwork Details

• Medium: Graphite and Watercolor on vellum
• Overall size in inch (framed): 16 x 13 inches
• Size painting in inches: 10 x 8 inches
• Year of creation: Circa 1810 to 1830
• Signed: No
• Provenance: Private French collection
• Style: French botanical art, school of Redoute
• Features: Framed, original, one of a kind
• Condition: Tiny traces of manipulation.