Charles Antoine Lemaire

Charles Antoine Lemaire (1801-1871) was not only a renowned artist, but also an important botanist whose passion and dedication lay in both art and science. Born in Paris, Lemaire developed a deep interest in nature at an early age that would remain with him throughout his life. He began his academic career studying botany, but he soon realized that his true calling lay in the combination of art and science. Lemaire dedicated himself to illustrating plants, demonstrating an exceptional ability to capture the beauty and complexity of flora in his works.

Over the years, Lemaire published numerous works that were valued for both their scientific rigor and artistic quality. His illustrations and descriptions of new plant species were invaluable to the botanical community and helped expand the understanding of the plant world. Lemaire's work was not limited to France; He corresponded with botanists and artists from all over the world and collected plants from exotic places, which he then immortalized in his illustrations. His influence on botanical art and science is still felt today.

Interesting fact:

Charles Antoine Lemaire was also known as "Cactus Lemaire", a nickname reflecting his particular fondness and expertise for cacti. He described numerous new varieties of cacti and was instrumental in popularizing this group of plants in Europe. His passion led to many cactus species being named after him, a sign of his deep connection and contribution to botany.

Important works of art & images by Charles Antoine Lemaire:

1. "Iconography of Cactées" (1838-1847)
2. "Flore des Serres et des Jardins de l'Europe" (1845-1888, continued posthumously)
3. "L'Illustration Horticole" (1851-1871, contributor)
4. "Les Cactées" (1868)
5. "Histoire Naturelle des Orangers" (1846)
6. "Cactearum Genera Nova Speciesque" (1839)
7. "Cactearum aliquot novarum" (1838)
8. "Monograph de la famille des Cactées" (1839-1841)
9. "Description of rare plants cultivated in Malmaison and Navarre" (1854-1855, article)
10. "Jardin Fleuriste" (1851-1854, contribution)