Redoute Original Watercolor of Aloe Flowering

REDOUTÉ, Pierre-Joseph (BELGIAN, 1759-1840).
"Aloe Rhodacantha" (Aloe Glauca Miller).
Watercolor, gouache, and gold leaf on vellum.
Signed "P.J. Redoute, pinx".
Prepared for Histoire des Plantes Grasses (1799), published by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle.
1799.
11 3/4" x 8 3/4" vellum, 24" x 20 1/2" framed.

An original watercolor by Pierre Joseph Redoute for Histoiredes Plantes Grasses. "Plantes Grasses," as it is better known, was the first collaboration between the then young Swiss botanist Augustin-Pyramus De Candolle and Redoute; their magnum opus was "Les Liliacees"(1802-1816). It was inspired by the suggestion of l'Hriter de Brutelle(1746-1800). Redoute prepared the drawing on vellum, while Candolle took on writing the descriptions of each species.

Candolle noted in his description that Aloe Rhodacantha originated at the Cape of Good Hope.