Marianne Fannin facts for kids

Marianne or Edda Fannin (born March 2, 1845 – died November 18, 1938) was an amazing Irish artist. She was famous for painting plants and flowers, especially those found in South Africa. Many people thought she was one of the best botanical artists of her time in South Africa.

Her Life Story

Marianne Edwardine Fannin was born in Dublin, Ireland, on March 2, 1845. Her parents were Thomas and Ellen Fannin. When Marianne was just a baby, her family moved from Dublin to South Africa.

First, they lived near the Cape of Good Hope. Later, they settled in a place called the Dargle. This area was named by her father after a river in Ireland. This district is still known as Dargle today.

In 1869, Marianne married Reverend Eustace Wilberforce Jacob. They traveled to England in 1871, but sadly, her husband passed away soon after they arrived. Marianne stayed in England for a while to study music and painting.

She returned to South Africa in 1875. From 1878, she lived in Transvaal. In 1879, she married Reverend Alfred Roberts, whom she met through a church group. Roberts later became an important church leader in Pretoria.

The couple lived in Potchefstroom from 1881 to 1896. They had two sons. One of their sons, Dr Austin Roberts, grew up to be a famous expert on birds. Marianne was also one of the people who helped start St. Mary's Diocesan School for Girls, Pretoria.

In 1881, during a difficult time in Pretoria, Marianne returned to her family home in Natal. She passed away on November 18, 1938, either in Heidelberg, Gauteng, or in New Muckleneuk, Pretoria.

Her Artistic Career

Marianne Fannin seems to have taught herself how to paint. Her older brother, George Fox Fannin, was very interested in plants. He encouraged her to study and paint the local plants of South Africa.

They were especially interested in beautiful flowers like orchids and milkweeds. Marianne would press the plants George collected and then paint them. She sent her amazing drawings to William Henry Harvey at Trinity College, Dublin.

Harvey was so impressed by her paintings that he named an orchid after her! He gave her credit for discovering it. Around 1869, Marianne painted a special album showing the flowers of Natal.

In 1878, Marianne joined a church group traveling from Durban to Pretoria. During this journey, she made sketches of the countryside around them. While living in Transvaal, Marianne painted many wildflowers and landscapes.

Her flower paintings are kept at the School of Botany at Trinity College, Dublin. Her landscape paintings are held in private collections in South Africa.

Plants Named After Her

Some plants were named in Marianne Fannin's honor because of her important work. This is a special way to remember her contributions to botany.

• Disperis fanniniae
• Sisyranthus fanniniae
• Streptocarpus fanniniae