MARIANNE NORTH
The Marianne North Gallery at Kew Gardens, London is, as Wilfrid Blunt described it: “…a gigantic botanical postage-stamp album.” The lady responsible for these glorious works of botanical art was another of those restless and curious Victorians, Marianne North. Born in 1830, in England, she travelled widely with her father. When he died she, most unusually for a lady in those days, continued her travels alone. She was keen to visit Seychelles and arrived at Mahe in October 1883 and explored the islands of Praslin, Curieuse and La Digue. She took interest in the Capucin tree and Joseph Hooker bestowed its Latin name in her honour: Northea seychellana. She painted continually, taking delight in the beautiful views and rare plants, but sadly she became ill with nervous strain and an enforced stay on Long Island in quarantine did not help her condition. She also visited Aride and painted this scene on the island, reporting just one large tree, beneath which the island staff sheltered from the sun.
