The Roses: China or Bengal Rose, 1817-1824. Hailed as the "Raphael of Flowers," Redout? achieved an international reputation for his botanical illustrations in watercolour, which were interpreted in the most refined techniques of stipple engraving and published in lavish portfolios. He was close friends with the empress Jos?phine who, after marrying Napol?on Bonaparte in 1795, built an immense hothouse to shelter her magnificent collection of rare and exotic plants and opulent gardens at their country estate, Malmaison. Jos?phine also spent vast sums to catalogue her floral collections and so commissioned Redout? to record her 250 different species of roses. Redout? employed a workshop of 18 printmakers to execute the plates, which were inked ? la poup?e (see glossary) and then retouched with watercolour.