Cactus Ambiguus

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About Cactus Ambiguus

(Pl. 36). (Paris: 1812-1814). Stipple engraving, printed in colour and finished by hand, engraved by Coutant. Very good condition, with the exception of some small losses at the top of the sheet edge, and a skilfully repaired 2" tear at top left. Sheet size: 21 1/2 x 14 1/2 inches. A fine plate from Bonpland's "Description des Plantes Rares Cultivees a Malmaison et a Navarre" considered to be the apex of Redoute's achievement as a botanical illustrator.Throughout his career, Redoute enjoyed royal patronage, beginning with Marie Antoinette and including the Empress Josephine, for whom he served as official painter. After Empress Josephine's divorce from Napoleon, Navarre became her principal residence, and she sought to recreate the horticultural splendours of Malmaison. This was the last work for which Redoute enjoyed her patronage, yet with the perfection of his stipple process, the illustrations are perfect both scientifically and artistically, and are a fitting close to the great era of Napoleonic works in which all available resources were used to document new and rare species.Bonpland, who provided the text for the work, was the botanist who accompanied von Humboldt in his explorations of South America and had succeeded Ventenat as botanist to Josephine. Nissen BBI 207, Dunthorne 240; MacPhail 13; Stafleu TL2 648