Pierre-Joseph Redoute (1759-1840) is the best known botanical artist of any era. Described as both the Rembrandt and the Raphael of flowers by 19th-century writers, Redoute brought the tradition of botanical painting to its apogee. Born in the Belgian Ardennes, he studied the work of earlier Flemish and Dutch floral artists, and when in Paris studied botany. He was given special access to the gardens of Versailles by Marie Antoinette and to those of Malmaison by the Empress Josephine. This text accompanies the first ever exhibition of Redoute's work in the USA held in July, 2002 at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Connecticut.