REDOUTÉ: Celebrating Botanical Illustration

We invite you  learn about one of the most prolific botanical artists of the French 18th and early 19th Century Pierre-Joseph Redouté. Scroll down to also view our Flower Power Guide linking you to Exhibitions and Event showcasing floral Artworks.

Rosa Gallica Maheka, From: Les Roses

Pierre-Joseph Redouté

Redouté (1759-1840) is unquestionably the best-known botanical illustrator of any era. The decorative appeal of his original engravings has led to their modern reproduction, which in turn has popularized Redouté’s work in a way unique among botanical artists. Yet no reproduction can capture the great and subtle beauty of his original engravings from Les Roses, nor can any introductory paragraph fully describe his many achievements. These magnificent engravings demonstrate the full mastery of his abilities, as the forms of the roses are set off dramatically by Redouté’s masterful and rich modulations of tone and hue.

Iris Patensis From Redouté's other acclaimed series Les Liliacees

The regal simplicity of the compositions allows the viewer to focus without distraction on the beauty and delicate complexity of the plants themselves. Perhaps better than any other engravings that the artist ever made, these three images demonstrate the flawless and pristine French style of botanical art that Redouté pioneered and brought to a pinnacle of quality. The luminosity of stipple engraving, a technique perfected by Redouté, is particularly suited to the reproduction of botanical detail. The medium involved engraving a copper plate with a dense grid of dots that could be modulated to convey delicate gradations of color.

FLOWER POWER GUIDE

Various museums in San Francisco are showcasing amazing botanical artwork as an homage to the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love, celebrating Flower Power as major themes of Peace, Love, and Community. We also added some exhibitions abroad for those traveler's this summer!  

Flower Exhibitions and Events:

Asian Art Museum

Floral Artwork of the Buddhist tradition

San Francisco Fall Antique Show

The largest west coat annual Antique show will host antique dealer, art galleries, and designers showcasing works with a floral themes in mind. 

Garden of Shakespeare's Flowers, Golden Gate Park
Flowers and plants played an important tool for Shakespeare's plays, here you can see many of those flowers he mentioned in his writing.
Musee de la Vie Romantique
Showcasing the works of Redouté  from his Roses to the Lillies
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Look out for a future exhibition which will showcase our own collection of the Raphael of Flowers, Redouté!

For Inquiries Please Contact us at (415) 788-5115, or Visit us at 432 Jacskson St. San Francisc, Ca 94111. Aradersf.com

Summer Auction Preview at Arader Galleries

Summer Auction PREVIEW

Cheers to another Auction! Set your Calendar to June 3rd for the opportunity to bid on a grand selection of original natural history works, spectacular views, and rare maps. The auction begins at 1pm EST. at our 1016 Madison Avenue Gallery.

This preview includes highlights from the auction, as great pieces to consider and add you your personal collection! Scroll to see detailed images and information. 

Lot 10 ● CAROLINA PARROT, PLATE 26

John James Audubon, Elephant Folio 1st Edition Havell

Lot 195 ● AMERICA NOVA TABULA

Willem Blaeu (1571-1638)

Lot 78 ● AN URN GARLANDED WITH FLOWERS, PEACHES, GRAPES, HAZELNUTS AND VARIOUS INSECTS ON A STONE LEDGE

Herman Henstenburgh (1667-1726)

Lot 29 ● RAMPHASTOS CUVIERI  (CUVIER’S TOUCAN)

John Gould (1804 - 1881)

Lot 91 ● THE VILLAGE PLOSSO IN THE PROVINCE OF MADIUN, JAVA

Jacob Dirk Van Herwerden (1806-1879)

Lot 155 ● MOSKOW, NO. 12

Cornelius Le Bruyn (1652-1726)

Online and phone bidding options are always available for inquiries and to access a copy of the auction catalog please call 415-788-5115. You can also bid at Liveauctioneers.com and view lots presented.

Arader Galleries, San Francisco 432 Jackson St, San Francisco, Ca 94111

California History: The Sacramento Flood

With April showers hitting us hard this Spring season, we thought it would be fitting to share an amazing piece of local History depicting one of the most devastating natural disasters of the mid-Nineteenth Century. 

This view of Sacramento depicts the city during a flood in 1850. Rain and melting snow from the Sierra Nevada mountains caused the Sacramento river to flow over the levee. Looking down J st from the levee, this view documents notable buildings and landmarks submerged in flood waters. At the head of J street on the left hand side is a knoll of ground made by the Indians, called Sa’cum, which stayed dry throughout the flood. Sutter’s Fort is 25 miles from the Levee and is at the head of J st. To the left of J street can be found the City Hotel, which faces onto the levee and was built in 1849 at a cost of $78,000. The Sutter Hotel, which can found to the far right of J st and also facing the levee was built in 1848 at a cost $50,000.

                                         

Geo W. Casilear & Henry Bainbridge

View of Sacramento City During the Great Inundation in January 1850

New York: Napoleon Sarony, c.1850

hand-colored lithograph

41” x 29 1/4”

$16,500

A thrilling account -From Daily Alta California, Volume 1, Number 17, 16 January 1850

"SACRAMENTO CITY, Jan,10, 1850. This will be a day never to be forgotten by the residents of Sacramento City as a day that awoke their fears for the safety of their city against the dangers of a flood long since prophesied.

I was awakened early on the following morning (the 11th) by the shouting and noise from without, I rose and dressed and went out upon the veranda of the Sutter House, (where I had taken a room) and here I had a clear view of the dangers to be apprehended. Before me, along the entire length of the levee, I saw with certainty the beginning of a flood. Long before noon hundreds of boats were crossing every street, far and near, and bearing to the several vessels that lay at the river’s bank, women and children, the sick and the feeble; and as they arrived, the owners of the vessels were ready to offer them prompt aid and every comfort in their power; and when they were safely landed upon the decks, the shout of joy went up to heaven in loud cheers from those who landed them, for their safety, and these shouts were echoed back by the hundreds of voices that were in the surrounding boats, and within hearing of the response. During the entire day and until night, this work of humanity and mercy went on. The loss of property must be very great — it must be over a million of dollars. As night approached and the waters continued to increase, great fears were entertained for the buildings that were considered safe until now for the vast body of water that continued to rush in on the levee in front of the city was evidence that but a very few could expect to be above the reach of water in the morning. Measures were now taken to prepare several places where food and lodging could be had, by raising new floors some two and three feet above the former ones; but this could only be done in a few houses, so many being underwater and all cooking apparatus belonging to the many eating houses being completely submerged. Besides this the several “Bakeries,” were so deluged that no bread could be had other than hard bread. These places for refreshment were quickly arranged so that the many hundreds that were driven from their homes and could not be accommodated on board the shipping should find food and shelter until they could leave the city or find houses in some place until the waters should subside."