ETHEL MAY DIXIE PAINTINGS

You, our many members and friends, need to know that Kogelberg Branch is now the very proud owner of sixteen flower paintings by early botanical artist, Ethel Dixie. Priscilla Blake, one of our members, has most graciously given them to us as she says she is ‘downsizing’. Priscilla, a librarian, had retired from Johannesburg to Kleinmond and was a regular at our talks and walks and still is to be seen after her move to Somerset West.

Dr John Rourke came to see the paintings, armed with his lens and almost immediately pronounced them ‘Good Dixies’ and ‘Very nicely looked after … very good condition … not foxed … good framing … a very nice set’. Both he and Vicky Thomas, a leading SA botanical artist who saw them next day, said that they should be kept together as a collection.

Your committee has still to meet but it would seem that the obvious home would be Harold Porter Gardens. Much needs to be decided, a few frames or mounts need attention but next year there’ll be an exhibition and an opportunity for you to see the pictures – they include five Gladioli, three Disas and two Ericas.

In due course we’ll give you more about Ethel Dixie and how the paintings came to belong to Priscilla. One of them has a newspaper cutting from her ninetieth birthday when Prof Brian Ryecroft is giving her a bunch of wildflowers.

We have to say an enormous thank you to Priscilla.