Ancient naturalistic reproduction of Redutea Heterophylla by Pierre-Joseph Redouté

Redutea Heterophylla is an engraving that highlights the unique beauty of this plant with its vibrant flowers and elegant leaves. Pierre-Joseph Redouté, the famous 18th-century botanical illustrator, demonstrates his expertise in depicting the various floral shades and shapes.

In the publication dated 1827 from which the plate is taken, the detail of this illustration is given as follows:
Ventenat, in his Jardin de Cels, dedicated this plant to Mr. Redouté, who had lent him the support of his fine talent for the publication of an immense quantity of new and interesting plants. He seemed thereby to pay off the collective debt of botanists; but he was not fortunate in the choice of the plant worthy of being offered in homage to the painter of the most beautiful flowers. Redutea heterophylla is native to St. Thomas Island and the banks of the Orinoco, in South America. It belongs to the Malvaceae family, and it has been united with the genus Fugosia. Let us hope that a new genus constituted on an ornamental plant much more beautiful than R. heterophylla will recall the name of Mr. Redouté to the memory of botanists.