Pierre-Joseph Redouté was a Belgian artist born in 1759. He is best known for his exquisite watercolor paintings of flowers, which were highly sought after by collectors and botanists of his time. Redouté began his career as an apprentice to a painter of porcelain, but soon turned his attention to botanical art. He was appointed as the official court artist to Queen Marie Antoinette, and later to Empress Josephine Bonaparte. Redouté's work was highly influential in the development of botanical illustration, and his delicate and precise depictions of flowers continue to inspire artists and gardeners today. He published several books of his illustrations, including "Les Liliacées" and "Les Roses," which are still considered some of the most beautiful and accurate depictions of these plants. Redouté died in 1840, but his legacy lives on through his stunning artwork.