2 X water-colour/gouache paintings Augusta Emily Maclear 1840-1929 Ref.OCT1+OCT2

water colour/gouache  Augusta Emily Maclear 1840-1929 Ref.OCT1+OCT2

I came across two, highly detailed, small paintings/sketches in water-colour or gouache (sorry, I am not an artist) which are attributed to Augusta Emily Maclear, and, would possibly have been painted in the 1860's.  What is interesting is that the one painting (on the right above) shows the Royal Observatory, (Cape Town) in the background with a detailed Hypoxis flower in the foreground. On the back of the painting is inscribed, in pencil 'Cape wild flowers and their homes' "Hypoxis stellata" view of Devil's Berg and the Royal Observatory' This sketch has the initials 'AEM' near the bottom.
The second sketch is also of the mountains, presumably in the same area, with, what I think may be a either Albuca cooperi or Ornithogalum thyrsoides in the foreground.
Not much is known about Augusta Emily, born in 1840 in Observatory, she died there in 1929. The daughter of the famous astronomer, Sir Thomas Maclear, she was the ninth child of eleven children. Thomas together with his wife, Mary and five daughters, came to join the Observatory at Cape Town in 1834 from Ireland. A medical doctor by profession, his interest in astronomy was so great that he was appointed by her Majesty, 'The Royal Astronomer of the Cape of Good Hope'.
He worked with the (also famous) John Herschell and both families became very close, both men having an interest in astronomy and John, his wife, Margaret, and Mary Maclear, all being noted artists in their own right. Augusta, possibly being one of the youngest , no doubt was influenced by all three, and, likely taught by them as well. A painting of John Herschell is attributed to her.
During 1841 to 1848, Thomas was involved in recalculating the dimensions and shape of the earth. A close friend of David Livingstone, they shared a common interest in Africa. Mary died in 1861 and Thomas retired in 1870. By 1876 he had lost his eyesight and was looked after by his family, presumably by Augusta, which may explain why she never married.

The two sketches/paintings are small, the one on the left measuring approximately 9cm x 12.5cm, the one on the right measuring 10.5cm x 13,5 cm.  Both have been recently mounted and framed.

It is sad to say that, whilst researching these paintings, I phoned the Observatory to see whether they had any information on Thomas Maclear, Augusta or if they knew of any surviving family members.  I was met with an uninterested 'Eh?? No, she doesn't work here'  When I asked whether there was a archives department and, if anyone could shed any history on the Maclears, the response was NIL.  No-one had even heard of Thomas, despite the fact that both he and his wife are buried at the Observatory, despite he was knighted in 1860, despite that the town 'Maclear' was named after him, despite that there is a Maclear beacon, a Maclear crater on the moon and a Cape Maclear in Malawi, all dedicated to him!! Such is life!!

 This is a genuine antique. Please remember the classification of an 'antique' is that it should be 100 years old, OR MORE. There are many articles being offered as 'antiques' when, clearly, they are not.
Price R800.00
Post R120.00 
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