Augustin Pyramus de Candolle, who was originally from Geneva, Switzerland, studied medicine and natural history in Paris. In that city, he became acquainted with some of the leading scientists of the day and chose botany as his principal interest. During his Paris years-1796 to 1808, he participated in the publication of a number of important botanical works, of which the first was Plantarum historia succulentarum. The proposal for this book was made initially by the botanist, Charles Louis L’Héritier de Brutelle (1746-1800) to his close friend, Pierre-Joseph (1759-1840), who was at the time the favorite painter of Queen Marie Antoinette. Redouté was asked to do the plates, and de Candolle was chosen to write the descriptive texts. The result was published in many sections, beginning in 1799 and continuing intermittently, with many difficulties, until 1837. One authority on the publication history of Plantarum historia succulentarum has stated that it is very difficult to know what constitutes a "complete copy" of the book.