The images from Les Roses by Pierre-Joseph Redouté's Roses are perhaps his most loved images of roses. The edition was made under the patronage of the Empress Josephine, wife of Napoleon, at the rose garden of her Chateau de Malmaison. She supported Redouté (1759-1840) who was praised by her as the best botanical painter of any era. The stipple engraving technique used in this edition allows subthe transitions and fine details. It represents a copper plate on which a dense grid of dots are engraved. Wet watercolor paper was pressed on the plate, transfering the ink. The prints were later finished by hand in watercolor paints for finer details. Copper plates were melted to make sure no more prints would be produced.
Original prints from the Les Roses by Redouté are rare and only appear at art auctions.