Victor Levasseur Art

This early 19th century hand-colored double fold-out botanical engraving is entitled "Pendulous-flowered Bryophyllum", plate 1409, published in London in 1809 in William Curtis’s 'The Botanical Magazine, or Flower-Garden Displayed'. Bryophyllum pinnatum, also known as the air plant...

This early 19th century hand-colored double fold-out botanical engraving is entitled "Sempervivum Glutinosum" (Clammy Houseleek), plate 1963, published in London in 1818 in William C...

This very rare, first edition, folio hand-colored woodcut engraving of a bird of prey is plate 219 from Ulisse Aldrovandi’s 'Opera Omnia', published ...

This early 19th century hand-colored double fold-out botanical engraving is entitled "Clerodendrum Macrophyllum" (Broad-Leaved Clerodendrum), plate 2356, published in London in 1824 ...

This is a hand-colored engraving of a Falkland Island Quail ("Caille des Isles Malouines") by Francois Nicolas Martinet, plate 222 from 'Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux' in associatio...

This early 19th century hand-colored stipple engraving by Augusta Innes Withers entitled "The Brabant Bellefleur Apple" was plate 10 published in London in the 'Transactions of the H...

This very rare, first edition, folio hand-colored engraving of an eagle is plate K2 from Ulisse Aldrovandi’s 'Opera Omnia', published between 1599 an...

This is a hand-colored stipple engraving entitled "Cactus Opuntia Polyanthos, Cierge Raquette Multiflore" (Prickly Pear Cactus) by Pierre-Joseph Redouté, Plate 59 from his illustrated publication 'Plantarum Historia Succulentarum ou Histoire des Plantes Grasses', published in Paris in 1799. Redoute was a pioneer of the stipple engraving technique, which he used to create this image. It involves utilizing a series of small dots worked into a copper plate rather than the more common lines. These dots can be made smaller or thicker depending on the degree of opacity the artist intends for various areas of the print. When inked and applied to paper, this allows for a greater portion of the paper to be seen, which accentuates the appearance of luminosity of the subject the artist is creating. Different color inks are used in the printing process, a time consuming technique known as "a la poupee". The engraving is then finished with watercolor to further enhance the beauty and realism of the print subject. This engraving of a flowering cactus is presented in a double mat; white outer mat and heather green inner mat.The mat measures 20" x 16" and the sheet measures 19.5" x 13.38". There are wide margins with a few short tears and chips along the the right and upper edges, which are all covered by the mat. There are small spots predominantly in the margins, but a few are present in the image area, but the print is otherwise in very good condition. There is another Redoute flowering cactus listed on 1stdibs, LU117326854582. The pair would make an attractive display grouping. Pierre-Joseph Redouté (1759-1840), was a painter and botanist originally from Belgium, who pursued his extremely successful artistic career in France. He is well known for his watercolor paintings of roses, lilies and other flowers and their subsequent folio-sized, color stipple engravings. Some believe him to be the greatest botanical illustrator of all time. Redouté was a favorite of the French royal court at the time and of the post French...

This early 19th century hand-colored double fold-out botanical engraving is entitled "Sempervivum Smithii" (Hispid-Stemmed Tree Houseleek), plate 1980, published in London in 1818 in...

This is a hand-colored engraving of a Greenfinch bird and a tree sparrow ("1, Le Friquet, 2. Le Verdier") by Francois Nicolas Martinet, plate 227 from 'Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux...

This early 19th century hand-colored double fold-out botanical engraving is entitled "Chelone Major" (Flowering Lyons' Chelone plant), plate 1864, published in London in 1816 in Will...

This hand-colored botanical mezzotint and line engraving by Johann Wilhelm Weinmann (1683-1741) is entitled "A. Lathyrus Major Peremis Richern B. Lathyrus Narbonensis Flore Albescen...