Mysterium

                         Mysterium Regnum Plantarum (Pancrace Bessa)“Bessa was commonly known as the painter of flowers. Because he specialized in scientific and lifelike representations of various plants, he also worked with the most important French horticulturists and botanists. Especially in this period, when many new plants were discovered and were to be catalogued, the pictures of plants and also some animals Bessa made were of great importance. Mainly he painted plants. When he painted animals, he mainly painted insects. Coloured engravings of a raven or a kangaroo are therefore rather the exception. His pictures stand out strongly because they are so detailed and vivid. His entire oeuvre comprises several hundred pictures.Born in Paris on 1 January 1772, Bessa also completed his studies in Paris at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle. His art was influenced above all by the plant painters Gérard van Spaendonck and Pierre-Joseph Redouté. Maria Karolina of Naples-Sicily, the Duchess of Berry, daughter-in-law of Charles X, was an important supporter of Bessa. This patronage expanded in the following years to such an extent that Bessa gave art lessons to the ducal family, especially to the Duchess herself. Before his death in 1864 Bessa produced his last work of art, Flore des Jardiniers. An eye for detail, a love of the world of plants and colourful illustrations make Bessa a very special painter of the time. © Meisterdrucke.”Sample Works:1. Caladium bicolor, 18362. Tiger flower or Peacock flower, 18363. Persian buttercup, 18364. Coffea Arabica (Coffee)5. Citrus sinensis var. Bigaradia violacea, 18366. Canna or Indian Shot Flower, 18367. American Turkscap Lily, 18368. Tulip ‘Firebird’, 18369.  Banisteria tomentosa, 183610. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, 1836  -- source link

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