Article (newsletter)  (Feb 1999)  Page(s) 2.  
 
Ombre superbe Before 1811... one of 15 Dutch gallicas that definitely or probably originated in the Low Countries and which are still in cultivation today

Book  (Jul 1998)  Page(s) 101.  
 
Ombre Superbe, Netherlands, before 1811. Synonyms: Anais...Cramoisi parfait...Gallica violet bleu...Ombrée noire...Pourpre violet...Renoncule violette...Violette en renoncule.
Upright shrub; no thorns; bristles. Medium green foliage, elliptical or rounded, thick, clearly serrate. Quite floriferous, in clusters of 2-4, generally 3 flowers, medium, double, not very pronounced quartering, small vivid light green eye. Violet-carmin, velvety and shaded.
According to Desportes this variety came from Holland. According to Hardy it seems to have been introduced by the nurseryman Du Pont; it is also Hardy who indicates all the synonyms mentioned above...
The oldest mention is in the l'Almanach of Guerrepain, in 1811: "Its foliage is almost round, of a pretty green, regularly serrated and well accompanied by flowers and buds; the latter are seven to eight on the same petiole, well crowned with the membranes of the calyx. The flower is one of the largest of the sort, almost double that of a Centifolia, of a beautiful blackish purple; some petals are shaded white, which is agreable; those in the centre cover the few stamens which remain."
The only specimen present in a public collection is that of l'Hay, which except for a few details, seems to agree with the description of Guerrapain, even if it is not so dark that one would call it "blackish purple".

Book  (Jul 1998)  Page(s) 309.  
 
Alexander Hardy (1787-1876), chief gardener at the Jardin du Luxembourg...Catalogue des Rosiers cultivés au Jardin du Luxembourg, ca. 1852-1860:
SUPERBE EN BRUN, Holl.
Ombre superbe, Dupt

Article (newsletter)  (1996)  Page(s) 45.  
 
One of many Gallicas produced in the Low Countries before 1814 and still with us today.

Book  (1936)  Page(s) 525.  
 
Ombre superbe (Provins) in Holland ?; blackish purple

Book  (1936)  Page(s) 5.  
 
Agathe petite Agathe [sic] (Provins) ? velvety purple-violet, 4 cm, double = Renoncule viol.

Website/Catalog  (1923)  Page(s) 51.  
 
Provins. Ombre Superbe (Netherlands, 1800). Blackish purple.

Book  (1899)  Page(s) 137.  
 
Ombre superbe, Provins, pourpre Noir. Dans l'Almanach de Guerrepain

Website/Catalog  (1844)  Page(s) 15.  
 
AGATHE.
Agathe petite.

Book  (1828)  Page(s) 38.  
 
Provins. Agathe petite Agathe.- Renoncule violette.- Agatha parvula, violacea. Th. 1. c. 3. p. 35. ic. (excl. syn.) Fl. pourpre violet-foncé.