Olive Tree (*Olea europæa*) – A. var Olivier de Callas. B. Olivier Pleureur Antique Print – P.J Redouté (c.1801-1819)

This refined botanical engraving by Pierre-Joseph Redouté presents the European olive in a comparative format, documenting cultivated varieties with the precision and compositional restraint characteristic of early nineteenth-century botanical art.

The plate focuses on varietal character through fruit, foliage, and branch habit, combining scientific legibility with a calm decorative balance. Redouté’s measured approach allows differences to emerge naturally, without visual excess.

Produced during the period often regarded as the golden age of botanical illustration, this engraving reflects a time when cultivated fruit trees were recorded as part of broader efforts in classification, agriculture, and horticultural knowledge.

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Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

The composition is structured around two contrasting branches, arranged across open space to preserve clarity. One stem rises with a steadier rhythm, while the other falls in a more pendulous arc, creating a quiet dialogue between stability and downward movement.

Deep, almost black olives form the dominant tonal presence, set against narrow leaves in muted greens and silvery highlights. The hanging clusters create a sense of weight and maturity, while isolated stones placed beside the branches act as precise analytical markers. Fine engraved linework and controlled hand-colouring preserve crisp contours and leaf structure, maintaining botanical legibility throughout.

About the Subject

This plate documents two cultivated varieties of the European olive (Olea europaea). In the accompanying description, figure A is identified as the “Olivier de Callas”, while figure B is the “Olivier pleureur”, also referred to as the “Olivier de Grasse”. The print also isolates the stones (fig. 1 and fig. 2), reinforcing the plate’s comparative intent through fruit form and internal structure.

Condition Report

The engraving is in very good condition, printed on period paper with a clean and stable surface. Light, even age-related toning is present, consistent with works of this age. The impression remains clear and well-defined, with margins preserved and no significant restorations observed. The original engraved credits are present and legible, including “P. J. Redouté pinx.” and “Lemaire sculp.”

Details

• Artist: Pierre-Joseph Redouté
• Work / Publication: Arbres et Arbustes
• Period: c. 1801–1819
• Technique: Original hand-colored copper engraving
• Sheet size: approx. 40 × 25 cm

For further context on Pierre-Joseph Redouté and his contribution to botanical illustration, see our editorial feature:

Pierre-Joseph Redouté: Floral Art in the Service of Science