Astonishing Marianne North- related coincidence coming up!
I discovered the MN gallery a few years ago and was blown away by it. What a talented and intrepid woman!
Dh was away a lot for work at the time, and once he was back I took him to see it.
He had in recent years spent a lot of time in Indonesia, particularly in a city called Malang, and lo, one of the MN paintings was of a huge tree in the main town square of Malang.
At the time, the MN gallery was in dire need of repair and restoration of some of the paintings, and they were asking for sponsors of a painting - they would then give you a copy.
Dh sponsored his Malang one - the square was very close to the lovely hotel where he often stayed. He explained that he'd like a 2nd copy to give to the hotel on a return visit, which they agreed to.
We paid a visit there a few years later - it was the first time I'd been, though I'd spoken to staff on the phone, including once on Dh's birthday when he was out. I'd asked them to say Happy Birthday for me when he got back - and when he did they had a chocolate cake for him! Truly lovely staff.
Dh handed the copy of the painting over to the manager, who was delighted. They had a number of photos from the old days, but nothing so early, let alone in full colour.
The tree is still there!
Might add that I'd never even heard of Malang before Dh stayed there, so for me, to learn of a Victorian woman going there alone, let alone to countless other (then) remote places, was quite astonishing.
