REDOUTÉ PIERRE JOSEPH [Crocus sativus]

Sale 2384 - Lot 303

Price Realized: $ 30,000

?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price

Estimate: $ 12,000 - $ 18,000

REDOUTE'S WATERCOLOR OF THE SAFFRON FLOWER. REDOUTÉ, PIERRE-JOSEPH. [Crocus sativus] Finished drawing executed in watercolor, graphite, and ink on fine vellum, signed lower left in brown ink: P. J. Redouté. 475x355 mm sheet size; fine condition. Matted and framed, with letterpress vellum text leaf. [Malmaison, France; 1802-16]

Set Alert for Similar Items

Additional Details

Crocus sativus, sometimes called the saffron crocus, is well known for producing the spice saffron as parts of its flowers. The saffron threads and styles are clearly visible in this watercolor, protruding from the blooming flower on the left.

Saffron production in France reached its height in the 18th century, but by the time Redouté painted his portrait of the flower, crops were in decline, and much of the supply was coming from the Middle East.