Marianne North

Marianne North ( born October 24, 1830 in Hastings, † August 30 1890 in Alderley, Gloucestershire ) was a famous artist of the 19th century, whose work was focus on the representation of botanical motifs.

Life

Marianne North was a daughter of the wealthy landowner and politician Roger North. You got from the concert singer Charlotte Helen Sainton Dolby singing lessons. After her voice failed, she soon devoted himself entirely to painting. After her mother's death († 1855), she accompanied her father often on his travels. In 1869 her father died, leaving her a considerable fortune.

Marianne North was an unusual for that time well-traveled woman. Looking for new motives they traveled around the world, including Brazil, Japan, Borneo, Java, India, Australia and Ceylon. One of their favorite targets in the Seychelles was North Iceland. Her art works are in the Botanical Garden ( Marianne North Gallery ) in Kew, London, issued. A number of plant species have been named in her honor, including the Areca northiana, Crinum northianum, Kniphofia northiana, Nepenthes northiana and Northea seychellana.

With the naturalist Charles Darwin and with the U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant she used a deep friendship.

The value of their plant drawings consists not only in artistic representation but also the documentation of an endangered vegetation.