The recognizable tradition of botanical illustration begins with the Renaissance. It stemmed from the desire to record nature in its unpredictable grandeur, and the process required the most precise and talented artists. With a remarkable ability to capture the most complex subjects of nature, Pierre-Joseph Redouté is widely considered the finest painter and engraver of botanical illustration. Working from live plants instead of samples from botanical collections, his watercolors possess unusual receptiveness and freshness. He was also an innovator in printing techniques, introducing the "stippling technique" to France, always striving for greater accuracy in his art. Redouté had the fortune of acquiring some of the most influential patrons of the era, including Marie Antoinette and Empress Joséphine Bonaparte, thus ensuring his work was well-funded and presented. His impressive collection includes over 2,000 plant paintings rendered with great precision and strict adherence to nature. In this outstanding edition of "Les Roses," Redouté turns his attention to the most romantic, desirable, and imaginative flower. Originally published in three volumes between 1817 and 1824, it remains his most famous and celebrated work.