Albuca Major

Redouté, Pierre Joseph, 1759-1840 · [ca. 1804]

Pierre-Joseph Redouté's Albuca flaccida blends botany with art. Published in the second volume of Les Liliacées, c. 1804, Albuca flaccida depicts a plant more commonly known as the flabby-leaved lantern flower, or its original name, Albuca major. Redouté's innovative stipple engraving method captures immense tonal variety within the exotic plant, especially in the green hues of the leaves. Miniature forms at the bottom, figures 3-9, catalogue other aspects of the lantern flower with careful exactitude. Redouté arranges figures 1 and 2 with dramatically splayed leaves, creating a striking composition. Though it is evident that Redouté worked from life in pursuit of scientific accuracy, his finished print transcends mere botanical illustration and must be considered fine art.