The Lilies [Hardcover]

Pierre Joseph Redoute (Author)

Book Description

Series: Jumbo | Publication Date: March 15, 2001

You don't have to be a connoisseur of lilies to appreciate these beautiful specimens. In fact, the less you know about them the more this new book will fascinate you. Gathering all of the plates from Pierre-Joseph Redoute's original eight volumes (published between 1802 and 1816), Les Liliacees is not just a book about lilies -- it's also a foray into an exacting and rare art.

Redoute is widely considered to have been the one of the best botanical illustrators; he had not only a breathtaking skill at translating the natural world onto paper but also strove to improve printing technology (he introduced "stipple-engraving" to France). His contributions to the art of botanical illustration are unequalled; in fact, the complete set of original volumes of Les Liliacees is highly prized -- its current value is approximately $400,000. For considerably less, you can have all of Redoute's 486 lilies, beautifully reproduced on thick, creamy paper. Flipping through, you'll be transported to the magical world of 19th-century botany. A pure delight.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This massive and beautifully printed book is quite a bargain. A must for those who love lilies. -- Marin Independent Journal, 1/22/01

Language Notes

Text: English, German, French

Product Details

• Hardcover: 520 pages
• Publisher: Taschen; First Taschen Edition edition (March 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3822864072
• ISBN-13: 978-3822864074
• Product Dimensions: 13.2 x 10.6 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,654,897 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FACSIMILE VOLUME OF RARE 19TH CENTURY BOTANICAL TREASURES, January 17, 2001

By 

"natalierinkenbach" (new york) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lilies (Hardcover)

You don't have to be a connoisseur of lilies to appreciate these beautiful specimens. If you are a horticulturalist or just an art lover, this new book will fascinate you. Gathering all of the plates from Pierre-Joseph Redouté's original eight volumes (published between 1802 and 1816), The Lilies is not just a book about lilies, it's also a foray into the exacting and rare art of botanical illustration.

Redouté is widely considered one of the best botanical illustrators in history. He was not only breathtakingingly skilled at transferring the natural world onto paper, but was also devoted to improving printing technology. Amongst other advances, he introduced "stipple-engraving" to France and refined the technique of single plate color engraving. Redouté's contributions to the art of botanical illustration are unequalled and his original printed work is highly collectible. The complete set of original volumes of The Lilies is currently valued at approximately $400,000.

For considerably less, you can have all of 486 of Redouté's lilies, beautifully reproduced on thick, creamy paper. THE LILIES, the latest in TASCHEN's historically accurate facsimile editions, is a botanical delight.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Books on Redoute, April 13, 2010

By 

Charles M. Marsteller "Charley_SF" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Lilies (Hardcover)

Pierre Joseph Redoute was a great botanical illustrator, and several books have been published.

All are well worth having.

They are:

--Redoute's Fairest Flowers (Prentice Hall) and its latest reincarnation, Choix Des Plus Belles Fleurs (Prestel)
--The Lilies (Taschen)
--Jardin de la Malmaison (Prestel)
--The Roses (Taschen)

If it is a colorful, coffee-table sized book you seek, The Lilies by Taschen is your book.*

And it comes at an equally attractive price.

In time, these books will be in short supply, so don't wait too long.


*Taschen is releasing a new edition of Choix Des Plus Belles Fleurs (apparently without the Fruits). Having a copy of the fine Prentice Hall edition by the great Prof. William T. Stearn, I expect to also see a very dramatically colorful, coffee-table sized book by the equally great Professor/Doctor H.Walter Lack, of Berlin.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous book, August 23, 2010

By 

Sue B. - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Lilies (Hardcover)

I am the proud owner of one gorgeous book !!
The details of the pictures are fantastic. I
can't stop leafing through it. Was worth the
money !!