Charles-Louis L'Héritier de Brutelle | Sertum Anglicum, Paris, 1788, contemporary boards rebacked

Charles-Louis L'Héritier de Brutelle

Sertum anglicum, seu plantae rariores quae in hortis juxta Londinum. Paris: Pierre-François Didot, 1788

FIRST EDITION, 4 parts in one volume, folio (512 x 356mm.), 35 plain engraved plates (including 15 bis), of which 22 are by Redouté and 10 are by Sowerby, contemporary blue boards, rebacked with brown calf retaining original spine, sprinkled endpapers, extremities rubbed

L'Heritier, a wealthy French nobleman and botanist, published a number of important specimen books in the 1780's, illustrating exotic plants found in Europe. In the process he launched the career of Redouté by publishing his illustrations and by introducing him to the highest levels of Parisian society. In addition he instructed Redouté in plant anatomy, the techniques of dissection, and made his large collection of books and specimens available to the young artist. While L'Heritier advised Redouté in the appropriate details necessary for correct botanical drawings, the Dutch flower painter, Gerrit van Spaendonck, encouraged the young artist's talents by teaching him the techniques for capturing variations in tone and color.

The Sertum Anglicum, or English Garland of Flowers, was an attempt to describe and illustrate some of the rare exotics growing at Kew Garden. When L'Heritier visited London in 1786, Redouté joined him there, and they worked on the volume together (Hunt). Thirty-one of the plates illustrated their respective species for the first time, while seven contain the only known illustration of the species.

LITERATURE:

Dunthorne 248; Great Flower Books, p. 65; McGill/Hunt 692; Nissen BBI 1189

PROVENANCE:

Formerly in Anglesey Abbey library, the house jointly purchased by Henry Rogers Broughton with his brother Urban Hanlon Broughton. They lived there together until 1932 when the newly-wed Henry moved into Bakeham House, near Windsor, with his wife Diana.