Description: Louis Van Houtte (1810 – 1876) a well-known Belgian horticulturalist published and illustrated the Flore des Serres et Jardins de L’Europe between1845 and 1888, an extensive work with over 2,400 colored lithographed plates. He studied at the Brussels Botanical Garden, where he became Director in his mid-20's. He left in 1839 to start his own nursery, a soon successful business with 75 acres and over 50 greenhouses, with many new and rare plants he obtained from overseas. As well as more common plants, his publication depicted many orchids (after 1845 he began sending out plants collectors to bring back orchids from South America), palm, and other exotic plants, which would have been found in the "Establishment Louis van Houtte," the largest nursery of its time on the continent. His company propagated many plants for European greenhouses. The publication work is notable for the craftsmanship of the Belgian lithographers Severeyns, Stroobant and de Pannemaker, who had mastered the art of color printing from stone. Louis Van Houtte was also the founder of the world-famous Royal Horticultural Institute.
These delightful prints are hand colored on medium weight paper, blank on the reverse. They are in excellent condition except as noted with minimal age toning of the paper. Bound edge is uncut. Venus print has darkened smudges on the left border and top. Prints are 6 5/8” by 10”.
Red House Collection Print is on web image only, not on actual print.
; "Vanhoutte - Venus Botanical Print")