Red Water Lily of Southern India - Marianne North
Archival giclée
Frames arrive ready to hang
Secure checkout
Made to order
Description
A detailed botanical study of the red water lily by Victorian explorer and artist Marianne North, captured in oil on board.
Marianne North was a prolific Victorian traveller and painter who documented global flora with scientific precision. During her extensive travels, she produced over eight hundred oil paintings, many of which are now housed in the Marianne North Gallery at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. This work depicts the Nymphaea rubra, or red water lily, observed during her time in India.
North utilised oil on board for her studies, a choice that allowed her to capture the specific colouration and texture of exotic plants in situ. Her approach avoided the stylised conventions of contemporary botanical illustration, favouring a direct observation of the plant within its natural environment. The composition includes the surrounding reeds and dragonflies, providing context for the lily's habitat. The brushwork is deliberate, focusing on the contrast between the saturated crimson petals and the dark, reflective surface of the water.
Her work is notable for its refusal to simplify the subject matter. North documented plants as she encountered them, often including insects or environmental details that other illustrators might have omitted for the sake of clarity. This painting reflects her systematic method of recording biodiversity. By placing the viewer at the water level, she creates a sense of proximity to the subject. The work remains a significant record of nineteenth-century botanical exploration, demonstrating North's ability to balance aesthetic observation with the rigour of natural history documentation.
Return policy
Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
Shipping
We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Red Water Lily of Southern India - Marianne North
Artist Biography
Marianne North
She was born in 1830 into a wealthy Norfolk family. Her father was an MP. She trained as a singer, but her voice failed and she turned to painting. She was devoted to her father and travelled with him until his death in 1869, which freed her to go further.
She painted plants in oils, not watercolours, and she painted them in situ within their habitats, including animals, people, and temples. In Borneo she painted a pitcher plant unknown to science, which was named Nepenthes northiana in her honour. Charles Darwin personally suggested she visit Australia. She completed 848 paintings in thirteen years, donated 832 to Kew Gardens, and paid for the gallery to house them herself. The Marianne North Gallery at Kew remains the only permanent solo exhibition in a major UK institution. She died in 1890.
Why Choose Us ?
Damage-free delivery guarantee
Fast Shipping
Museum-Quality Materials
You May Also Like