Marianne North: the Kew collection

Abstract

Marianne North was a remarkable Victorian traveller and painter, who traversed the globe recording the world's flora with her paintbrush and writing her experiences in her journal. In 1879 she offered her painting collection numbering over 800 to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and at her own expense built a gallery to house them. Marianne stayed closely involved with the project, painting beautiful decorative motifs on the interior door panels and surrounds. For the first time, this unique and stunning book brings together all of Marianne North's Kew collection. The paintings are arranged geographically as they appear in the Gallery, and Marianne's original titles are included alongside each painting. With an introduction by Christopher Mills, former Head of Kew's Library, Art and Archives.