The six plates for "Livre de Corbeilles et Vases de Fleurs" (A Book of Baskets and Vases of Flowers) were engraved by J.J. Avril after paintings by Louis Tessier. The plates were hand colored and the coloring varies from impression to impression.
This impression is a beautiful example of Tessier's eye for design, with his elegant use of space and the vivid color combinations by Avril. Despite the formality of the still life, the fun, haphazard arrangement of these fantastic flowers makes for a charming yet highly stylized image.
Jean Jacques Avril (the elder) was born in Paris in 1744 and studied architecture but became a student of engraver Jan Georges Wille (1715-1808). He engraved over 540 works but is best known for these floral engravings after Tessier. He died in 1831.
