The Rose Book - Phaidon

A gorgeous visual survey of the rose, exploring our enduring connection to one of nature’s most universally beloved flowers

From a couture Dior gown and a rose-adorned Barbie to ancient mosaics and Victorian Valentine’s cards, this curated collection of more than 200 stunning images celebrates the world’s most iconic flower. Discover the extraordinary ways the universally beloved bloom has been depicted through time and across cultures, both within and beyond the garden.

Featuring 220 exquisite images, The Rose Book reveals depictions as diverse as the plant’s own endless varieties – from wild ramblers to cultivated Hybrid Teas, botanical illustrations to fashion design, fragrance to film, fine art to photography. Works by figures such as Pierre-Joseph Redouté, Christian Dior, Georgia O’Keeffe, Irving Penn, Tiffany & Co., Alexander McQueen, Vincent van Gogh, and more are artfully paired to reveal intriguing juxtapositions.

Captivating essays explore the horticultural history of the rose, the flower’s abundant presence in fashion, and the storied use of its scent in fragrance and perfume. The book also includes a rose glossary by Michael Marriott, and an epilogue by Shane Connolly.

Whether as a symbol of beauty and love, a political and religious icon, or a beloved ornamental plant with countless cultivars, the rose has been an undeniable force in popular culture for millennia, from Ancient Greece to today.