Black Mulberry (*Morus nigra*) / Mûrier noir Original engraving by Pierre-Joseph Redouté (c.1801-1819)

This original early 19th-century botanical engraving depicts the black mulberry (Morus nigra), illustrated by Pierre-Joseph Redouté for his celebrated Arbres et Arbustes. The plate presents fruiting branches with characteristic broad leaves and richly textured berries, rendered with a balance of botanical accuracy and visual restraint.

Unlike ornamental florilegia, this composition focuses on a cultivated fruit tree of everyday relevance, documenting its form and fruiting habit with clarity. Redouté’s treatment elevates the subject from agricultural specimen to refined visual record.

Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

The composition is arranged around two fruit-bearing branches, creating a natural asymmetry that suggests growth rather than formal design. The large, softly veined leaves provide a broad visual framework, while the clustered berries introduce a dense, tactile focal point within the image.

Subtle tonal transitions in the foliage contrast with the deep purples and reds of the ripening fruit, conveying both volume and surface texture. Hand colouring is controlled and precise, allowing the engraved structure to remain legible while lending the berries a quiet sense of weight and ripeness.

About the Subject

The black mulberry (Morus nigra) has long been cultivated in Europe for its richly flavoured fruit and dense foliage. In early nineteenth-century botanical works, such species were documented not only for classification, but also for their role in domestic cultivation and regional horticulture. By including the mulberry within Arbres et Arbustes, Redouté acknowledges the aesthetic and cultural value of fruit trees traditionally associated with gardens and everyday life.

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