Pierre-Joseph Redouté, 'Canterbury Bells, Campanula medium', 1787. Museum no. E.91-1947
Pierre-Joseph Redouté (1759-1840)
'Canterbury Bells, Campanula medium'
1787
Watercolour on vellum
Museum no. E.91-1947
Redouté made this watercolour as a gift to the botanist James Lee, whilst staying in his house in Hammersmith in 1787. Such was Redouté's skill that over two hundred years later the flowers remain alive on the page and we can almost hear the insects buzzing.
This piece is also a good example of the ease with which Redouté moved between painting plants professionally and for enjoyment. During his career he worked alongside established botanists producing drawings for serious study whilst simultaneously making illustrations for publications devoted to nothing more than the simple enjoyment of beautiful flowers.
This print can be found in Print Room Box DP3 of the Victoria Albert Museum.
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