Pearl-Tongue Aloe

Dame Ann Hamilton’s collection of 162 paintings include local and exotic species, among them the pearl-tongue aloe from Africa. She demonstrated skill beyond that of a typical amateur suggesting that she worked under the tutelage of a professional painter. In fact, Hamilton’s sister, Bridget, was a known and prized pupil of Georg Ehret. It is likely that Hamilton also studied under the celebrated botanical artist.

In Pearl-tongue Aloe, Hamilton pays special attention to the aloe’s tubular red flowers along the gently-curving stalk that emerges from the center of the long, triangular fleshy leaves at the base of the plant. Hamilton expertly captures the subtle transition between a faint pink to both the green of the leaves and the brown of the soil. Moreover, placing the plant in its surroundings conveys the size of the plant in relation to its environment--a technique also used by Ehret. Her attention to the texture of the aloe’s succulent leaves makes this piece unique among her collection.