MARIANNE

NORTH (1830—1890)  , English naturalist and flower-painter, was born at Hastings on the 24th of October 183o, the eldest daughter of a Norfolk landowner, descended from Roger North (16J3-1734) . She trained as a vocalist under Madame Sainton Dolby, but her voice failed, and she then devoted herself to painting flowers . After the death of her mother in 1855 she constantly travelled with her father, who was then member of parliament for Hastings; and on his death in 1869 she resolved to realize her early ambition of painting the flora of distant countries . In 1871-1872 with this object she went to Canada, the United States and Jamaica, and spent a yearin Brazil, where she did much of her work at a hut in the depths of a forest . In 1875, after a few months at Teneriffe, she began a journey round the world, and for two years was occupied in painting the flora of California, Japan, Borneo, Java and Ceylon . The year 1878 she spent in India, and after her return she exhibited a number of her drawings in London . Her subsequent offer to present the collection to the botanical gardens at Kew, and to erect a gallery for their reception, was accepted, and the new buildings, designed by James Ferguson, were begun in the same year . At Darwin's suggestion she went to Australia in 188o, and for a year painted there and in New Zealand . Her gallery at Kew was opened in 1882 . In 1883, after a visit by her to South Africa, an additional room was opened at the Kew gallery, and in 1884-1885 she worked at Seychelles and in Chile . Miss North died at Alderly in Gloucestershire on the 3oth of August 189o . The scientific accuracy with which she represented plant life in all parts of the world gives her work a permanent value .