Mariquita Johnson painted perhaps two of the oldest paintings in Trinidad, but little is known of her life. Johnson’s “Around the Queen’s Park Savannah” and “The Angels” were both painted in 1905 and are among the country’s oldest paintings along with the watercolor works of Michel Jean Cazabon. The only extant remains of her family are those relating to the tomb of her father, Gorge, whose wooden house was where Mariquita spent her last years. “George’s tomb was unique in many ways,” said Sylvia Seetal, who lives near the tomb. “Much of it was vandalised following the death of Mariquita.” According to a distant relative, Mariquita was a “very secretive person” who never allowed villagers to know where she was being trained as an artist. [Trinidad Express]
