{"product_id":"blue-water-lily-nymphaea-caerulea-plate-55-by-pierre-joseph-redoute-1827","title":"Blue Water Lily (Nymphaea caerulea, Plate 55) by Pierre Joseph Redouté, 1827","description":"\u003cp\u003ePlate 55 from Pierre-Joseph Redouté’s \u003cem\u003eChoix des plus belles fleurs\u003c\/em\u003e, published in 1827, presents the blue water lily (\u003cem\u003eNymphaea caerulea\u003c\/em\u003e) as a poised arrangement of two open flowers, an upright bud and broad green leaves. The blooms occupy the centre of the pale page, their slender, pointed petals unfolding around warm yellow hearts. Below them, overlapping lily pads and gently curving stems create a loose diagonal structure, balancing botanical clarity with the grace of a composed floral study.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRedouté was among the most celebrated botanical illustrators of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, working at a moment when horticulture, plant classification and luxury publishing were closely intertwined. His reputation rested on his ability to reconcile close observation with exceptional elegance: plants remain recognisable and structurally intelligible, yet they are never reduced to dry scientific specimens. \u003cem\u003eChoix des plus belles fleurs\u003c\/em\u003e belongs to this cultivated tradition, in which botanical illustration served both the study of plants and an audience fascinated by the visual variety of the natural world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eA closer look\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe two principal flowers are similar enough to establish a rhythm, but not identical. One faces more directly outwards, spreading its blue petals in a near-radial pattern; the other turns slightly, revealing a more layered profile. Redouté models each petal through subtle tonal changes, moving from stronger blue at the outer edges towards paler colour nearer the centre. Small accents of yellow interrupt the cool palette and draw attention to the intricate reproductive structures at the heart of each bloom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe foliage provides a weightier counterpoint. At the lower right, a large lily pad curves across the composition, its ribbed surface articulated by fine veins and shifts between deep and lighter green. Another leaf rises behind the flowers, while a slender stem sweeps upwards from the lower left. These lines convey the plant’s growth without suggesting a complete aquatic setting: the water itself is absent, leaving the stems, leaves and flowers suspended against open space. That isolation makes their differing forms especially legible—the pointed petals, rounded pads and tightly folded bud each contribute a distinct silhouette.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe bud in the upper right is a particularly economical detail. Held erect on its stem, it echoes the blue of the open flowers while preserving the compact shape of an earlier stage of growth. Together, bud and bloom give the plate a quiet sense of development rather than a static inventory of parts. Beneath the arrangement, the name \u003cem\u003eNymphaea caerulea\u003c\/em\u003e identifies the specimen, while “P. J. Redouté” appears at the lower right.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eContext and significance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBotanical illustration in Redouté’s period occupied a fertile territory between art and science. Images needed to communicate leaf structure, floral form and characteristic colour, but the finest examples also depended upon spacing, balance and visual cadence. Redouté’s approach is evident here in the generous margin around the plant and the careful avoidance of crowding. Nothing extraneous competes with the specimen, yet the placement of every stem and leaf feels considered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe plate’s enduring appeal lies in that dual character. It rewards botanical attention through the veining of the lily pads, the stages of flowering and the differentiated petal forms, while retaining the compositional refinement associated with Redouté’s flower studies. Cool blue blossoms, substantial green foliage and an airy ground combine to give this aquatic plant an unusually lucid presence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChoosing the right size and finish\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eArtwork can feel intimate at smaller sizes and dramatically more architectural at larger ones. Use the room preview, model image and size guide to see how the proportions and scale will work in your space.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIf you need an exact size, specialist framing or help planning a larger display, \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eask our workshop for advice\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this art print.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, or one considered visual detail. \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/map-personalisation\"\u003eSee examples of personalised artwork\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eChoose Original to retain the colour and character of the source artwork, or Aged for a warmer, more antique appearance. \u003ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/pages\/sepia-aged-maps\"\u003eSee examples of our Aged artwork\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvery piece is produced to archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte art paper. Choose an art print, framed art print or framed canvas using the finish options above.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFramed art prints use crystal-clear optical acrylic for excellent clarity, lower weight and safer delivery than glass. Each piece arrives professionally framed and ready to hang.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSelected artworks can be produced at statement sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). Custom sizing and \u003ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/pages\/custom-framing\"\u003especialist framing\u003c\/a\u003e are also available. If the exact option you need is not listed, \u003ca target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003econtact our workshop\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Unique Maps Co.","offers":[{"title":"8x10in (20x25cm) \/ Art print","offer_id":59958551282048,"sku":null,"price":227.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"8x10in (20x25cm) \/ Framed art print","offer_id":59958551314816,"sku":null,"price":544.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"8x10in (20x25cm) \/ Framed canvas","offer_id":59958551347584,"sku":null,"price":635.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"A4 (210x297mm) \/ Art print","offer_id":59958551380352,"sku":null,"price":227.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"A4 (210x297mm) \/ Framed art print","offer_id":59958551413120,"sku":null,"price":544.0,"currency_code":"CNY","in_stock":true},{"title":"A4 (210x297mm) \/ Framed 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