Flower painting of native orchid Pterostylis pedunculata by William Lewis May (1861-1925), Tasmania

Abstract

Painting of Pterostylis pedunculata (Maroonhood Orchid) by William Lewis May, otherwise known as Lewis, who was born in 1861 in South Australia, the eldest son of William and Mary May (nee Cotton) and together with the rest of his family created a fine orchard and homes in Sandford. He had many interests such as Egyptology, botany and gardening and traced the genealogical history of his own family. However it is for his shell collections that he is best known.For many years he concentrated on the study of shells amassing one of the best collections of English shells outside England and one of the best collections of Australian and Tasmanian shells in the world. He created exquisite drawings of shells which were published to illustrate his book on the subject. He also painted Tasmanian wildflowers and birds and found time to be Clerk of Monthly Meeting for 15 years, was on the Standing Committee of the Society and on the Committee of the Friends' High School.