Étienne Pierre Ventenat

Étienne Pierre Ventenat (1 March 1757 – 13 August 1808) was a French botanist born in Limoges.

While employed as director of the ecclesiastic library Sainte-Geneviève in Paris, Ventenat took a trip to England.

In 1794 he wrote a treatise on the principles of botany titled Principes de botanique, expliqués au Lycée républicain par Ventenat.

After publication he became so disappointed with its mediocrity that he reportedly made efforts to procure all copies of the book and have them destroyed.

The illustrations in the two aforementioned works were performed by famed botanical artist Pierre-Joseph Redouté (1759–1840).