Asa Foetida. [Devil’s Dung]

Biography:

Ernestine Panckoucke (1784-1860)

Panckoucke, was a talented French botanical illustrator and flower painter, considered one of Redouté’s most gifted students. She described herself as a ‘translator of Goethe’s poems, pupil of Redouté and designer of Chaumeton’s “Flore Médicale“‘, published by her husband Charles Louis Fleury Panckoucke (1780-1844). She illustrated this work with Pierre Jean François Turpin (1775-1840). She is thought to have met Redouté at either the Château de Malmaison whilst a student under Prud’hon, or at Jean-Baptiste Isabey’s studio while sitting for a portrait. Afterwards she regularly attended Redoute’s classes at the Jardin des Plantes. Redouté had been commissioned by Empress Joséphine to depict the roses and lilies at Malmaison.