Rosier a cent feuilles 1817 - 1824

François Langlois, also known as Ciartres, created this print of a ‘rose a cent feuilles’ using engraving techniques. Botanical illustration was extremely popular in France during the 18th and early 19th centuries, flourishing amidst a renewed sense of French nationalism after the Revolution. The detailed rendering of the rose, set against a stark background, is typical of the encyclopedic approach to natural history at the time. Many illustrated books were produced, aiming to classify and document all known plant species. These kinds of visual compendiums served scientific goals, but also reflected the political ambitions of France to be a leading center of learning and knowledge. What makes this image so interesting for the social historian is the way that botanical illustration became a form of national branding. If we want to understand the context, we can examine publications like Curtis's Botanical Magazine and La Gazette du Jardin. We can reflect on the way that the image of France was constructed through its art.