Grapes

This beautiful botanical print comes from Louis Van Houtte’s monumental work entitled Flore des Serres et des Jardins de l’Europe (Flowers of the Greenhouses and Gardens of Europe) published between 1845 and 1883. Van Houtte was considered one of the premier horticulturists of his day and served as the chief editor for this work in coordination with prominent botanist Charles Lemaire.

Van Houtte owned many nurseries and greenhouses where many of the plants and flowers depicted in Flore des Serres were actually cultivated. These plates in essence acted as his catalogue, and thus feature what were the most desirable botanicals of the time. Orchids, roses, camellias, carnivorous plants, and tropical or exotic flowers were particularly shown in the work.