How Kogelberg branch became proud owner of botanical art

It was mid 2015 when Priscilla Blake, an active member, said she would like to donate sixteen paintings by South African artist Ethel May Dixie to the branch. Priscilla, a physiotherapist from Johannesburg, had retired to Kleinmond when she was a regular at our walks and talks. When a move to Somerset West seemed sensible, Priscilla felt that her flower paintings, needing a new home, would be cherished by Kogelberg Branch.

Of course, we were intrigued to know how Priscilla, living far from Ethel Dixie’s Cape home, had become the owner of her flower pictures. The story is intriguing and very much a Southern Suburbs tale. Priscilla’s maternal grandmother lived in Rosebank, Cape Town, where she had, as was customary, a companion*, whom I am almost sure was called Dolly. When the time came to retire, Dolly moved to Avondrust, an old-age home in Rondebosch. Also resident there was Ethel Dixie; they became very good friends and like all good friends, they exchanged gifts. In time Dolly had this collection of lovely flower paintings. Having no children, she left them to the daughter of her old employer. Priscilla being an only child thus inherited them.

Experts, Vicki Thomas and John Rourke, both proclaimed these paintings to be very good and that they should be kept together as a collection. (See John Rourke’s article on Ethel May Dixie). It was decided that the collection’s natural home would be Harold Porter NBG, available to all to enjoy.

You will now be wondering why it has taken so long to display the whole collection. The sorry story of our desired display stands is in our annual reports – inaction and bureaucracy at SANBI. They were to be paid for by the Botanical Society’s Partnership Fund needing SANBI approval.

For our November Botanical Art meeting, HPNBG curator Berenice Carolus will borrow stands from Kirstenbosch.

We are very, very grateful to Priscilla who is now resident in Heritage Manor Health Care Centre, Somerset West and not likely to be able to see her paintings at last displayed in their new home.

*companion: a person employed to accompany, assist, or live with another in the capacity of a helpful friend

Merrilee Berrisford

Here we give you a taste of some of the Ethel Dixie paintings that will be displayed at our meeting in November.