Canterbury Bells (Campanula medium)
Watercolour
1787 (painted)
1787 (painted)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Redouté made this informal study while he was staying with the botanist James Lee (1715-95) at his home in Hammersmith, west London. He gave it to Lee as a gift in return for his hospitality. Most of Redouté's botanical illustrations were made for publication, but not this one. It shows the remarkable technical skill of his mature style. Redouté has exploited the characteristic transparency of the watercolour medium to convey the transparent wings of the dragonfly. He has taken advantage of the smooth, polished surface of the vellum to capture the delicate sheen of the petals.
Redouté was one of the greatest botanical artists of the 18th century. He produced many illustrations for botanical monographs and scientific publications. He also made decorative studies for books that were devoted to the beauty of garden flowers.
Redouté was one of the greatest botanical artists of the 18th century. He produced many illustrations for botanical monographs and scientific publications. He also made decorative studies for books that were devoted to the beauty of garden flowers.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Canterbury Bells (Campanula medium) (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Watercolour on vellum |
| Brief description | Watercolour by P.J. Redouté, Canterbury Bells (botanical illustration), 1787 |
| Physical description | Portrait format painting of a spray of blue flowers on a plae beige background. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'P.J. Redouté pinxit 1787' (Signature; date; handwriting; ink) |
| Gallery label | Pierre-Joseph Redouté 1759-1840
Canterbury Bells (Campanula medium)
1787
Redouté made this formal study as a gift for the botanist James Lee while staying with him in Hammersmith. Though not intended for publication it is a 'tour de force' of technical and aesthetic skill. In the tradition of northern European flower painting, Redouté includes two insects and by doing so makes a grand claim for the life-likeness of his picture.
London
Watercolour on vellum
Given by Lady Wilson and Miss Marjorie Lee
V&A: E.91-1947 |
| Credit line | Given by Lady Wilson and Miss Marjorie Lee |
| Object history | This study was made while the artist was staying with James Lee (1715-1795), the botanist, at his home in Hammersmith, and presented to him in return for his hospitality. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Association | |
| Summary | Redouté made this informal study while he was staying with the botanist James Lee (1715-95) at his home in Hammersmith, west London. He gave it to Lee as a gift in return for his hospitality. Most of Redouté's botanical illustrations were made for publication, but not this one. It shows the remarkable technical skill of his mature style. Redouté has exploited the characteristic transparency of the watercolour medium to convey the transparent wings of the dragonfly. He has taken advantage of the smooth, polished surface of the vellum to capture the delicate sheen of the petals. Redouté was one of the greatest botanical artists of the 18th century. He produced many illustrations for botanical monographs and scientific publications. He also made decorative studies for books that were devoted to the beauty of garden flowers. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.91-1947 |
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| Record created | December 23, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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