Marianne North was not ready to settle down. At age forty-one, she found herself alone and uninterested in the domestic trappings of Victorian life. So she packed her paints and set off for North America. Her 1871 trip marked the start of a remarkable life of travel and artistry that would put her among the greatest of the world’s naturalists.
After the death of her beloved father, North made a fearless decision to venture out on her own—something few women dared to do at the time—with a goal of recording as many tropical and exotic plants as possible. Taking a different approach than the botanical artists of the time, which favored solitary plants and soft water colors, North often painted entire landscapes using bold, hearty oil paints. She produced a staggering 833 paintings, nearly all of which are now housed in an eponymous gallery at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Marianne North: A Very Intrepid Painter
provides an overview of her life and adventures, as well as the history and restoration of her gallery. The beautiful gift book details North’s life and travels, and this new edition’s larger format allows her stunning images to truly shine. It’s a fitting collection for one of the world’s greatest botanical explorers.