Olive Tree (*Olea europæa*) – Olivier d'Europe - var Olea Fragrans - Antique Botany Print – Pierre-Joseph Redouté (c.1801-1819)

This original early 19th-century botanical engraving depicts Olea fragrans, described in the accompanying text as the “Olivier odorant”. Illustrated by Pierre-Joseph Redouté for his celebrated Arbres et Arbustes, the plate presents a flowering branch with quiet precision and an exceptionally calm, architectural presence on the page.

Notably, the subject is indicated as shown “de grandeur naturelle” (at natural size), emphasizing direct observation and faithful scale. The result is a work that reads both as a botanical record and as a refined decorative engraving suited to curated interiors, libraries, or study spaces.

Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

The composition is organized along a steady vertical axis, with leaves unfolding in measured intervals that create a sense of rhythm and structural clarity. Subtle tonal shifts in the foliage—ranging from cool green to deeper, shadowed notes—give the plant volume without breaking the plate’s overall restraint.

At the crown, a delicate cluster of pale blossoms introduces a light focal accent, while a small isolated floral detail near the lower margin reinforces the plate’s descriptive intent. Fine engraved linework and controlled hand-colouring preserve crisp leaf edges and vein structure, resulting in an image that feels both botanical and quietly elegant.

About the Subject

“Olivier odorant” refers to an olive-related subject valued for its aromatic flowering character, presented here as a single branch. The accompanying description specifies that the engraving is shown at natural size, a choice that underscores the period’s emphasis on accurate scale as part of botanical communication. In works such as Arbres et Arbustes, these plates served both horticultural curiosity and the broader Enlightenment project of cataloguing cultivated and notable plants with clarity and permanence.

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