Redouté's Les Liliacées, Candolle and Geneva

Abstract

Pierre-Joseph Redouté's Les Liliacées is a famous work on petaloid monocots with a complex background published in Paris in 1802–1815. While the plant illustrations were produced by Redouté and a team of engravers and printers, Augustin-Pyramus de Candolle, François Delaroche and Alire Raffeneau-Delile provided the plant descriptions. Based on archival evidence it is shown that the text for volumes 5–7 was written by Delaroche (not as previously believed for volumes 5–6), while volumes 1–4 are by Candolle and volume 8 with a few exceptions by Raffeneau-Delile. The pertinent herbarium record is extremely fragmentary, but a small number of specimens has been traced in the herbarium of the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques in Geneva, which help to interpret the names validated in Les Liliacées. In addition, the archives of this institution preserve a selection of black proofs and colour proofs of the engravings which offer a peephole to Redouté's studio, while several letters offer additional information on the working process. Augustin-Pyramus de Candolle's role in the project, his special interest in Narcissus L. resulting in the current subdivision of this genus and his contacts with Delaroche and Raffeneau-Delile are discussed. In an appended list the historical and correct names are provided for all plants illustrated on tab. 1–240 and 480–486, which have been provided with descriptions and comments by Candolle.