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Victorian artist & naturalist Marianne North (b. #OTD in 1830) defied gender norms to document global plant life. Over 14 years, she traveled solo across 6 continents and 15+ countries, creating a revolutionary visual archive of the natural world. #WomenInSTEM #Art #ArtSky

Initially dismissed by male peers as a "decorative artist," her intense visual accuracy led to real scientific breakthroughs. She documented ~900 species; a genus (Northia) & the massive Bornean pitcher plant (Nepenthes northiana; she was the first non-local to find it 👇) bear her name. #WomenInSTEM

Opened in 1882 at Kew Gardens, the Marianne North Gallery holds 832 of her oil paintings. When denied permission to serve tea inside, she rebelliously painted tea and coffee plants on the doors. It is the only permanent solo female art exhibition in the #UK. #ArtHistory