The artwork, titled “Flowers of a West Australian Shrub and Kangaroo Feet,” was created by Marianne North in 1880. This piece is a flower painting that belongs to the Naturalism art movement and beautifully captures the flora native to Western Australia.
In the artwork, a vivid portrayal of various Australian plants is showcased against a serene, light blue sky. Dominating the arrangement is a striking red floral spike, presumably representing the vibrant Banksia species, extending upwards with lush green foliage. Surrounding this central bloom are additional native shrubs with varied leaf structures, contributing to the rich diversity of the scene. The attention to detail in the depiction of leaves and flowers highlights Marianne North’s dedication to botanical accuracy, a hallmark of the Naturalism movement. The background softly transitions to an atmospheric seascape, providing depth and context to the botanical foreground.
