Estate Find
Jean Andrews,
Texan (1923-2010)
Fish Etching
1968
We offer an etching of two fish by Jean Andrews. She was a noted Texas artist, scholar and writer on shells and botany and known as "The Pepper Lady" for her famous books on peppers.The etching is No. 1 of 3 and is signed and dated "Jean Andrews ‘68" in pencil at the lower right corner.
The glazed frame measures 10 7/8” in width and 13 1/8” in height. The image measures 5 7/8” in width and 8 1/8” in height.
The etching by Jean Andrews is presented in very good vintage condition.
Jean Andrews (1923-2010)
Jean Andrews was a fifth generation Texan and held membership with:
National advisory board Leadership American, 1988-1995. Trustee Laguna Gloria Art Museum, 1985-1991, National Wildflower Research Center, 1987-1994, advisory council since 1995. Past trustee Art Museum of S. Texas.
Past board directors Planned Parenthood.
Member Austin Symphony Society, Friends of Huntington Gallery/University Texas, others. Member Daughters of the American Revolution, American Malacol
Union, Texas Pepper Foundation (life), Texas State Teachers Association (life), University Texas Alumni Association (life), University North Texas Alumni Association (life), Colonial Dames of 17th Century, National Society Americans of Royal Descent, National Society Colonial Dames in American, National Society Magna Charta Dames, Daughters of Cincinnati, Huguenot Society, Order of Descendants of Ancient Planters, Daughters of the Confederacy, Descendents of Ancient Planters, Jamestowne Society, Descendants of Colonial Governors.
Jean Andrews 1923–2010
Jean Andrews, PhD, known so widely as “The Pepper Lady®” that she had the name registered, passed away on January 7, 2010, at the age of 86. Dr. Andrews is well-known for her internationally acclaimed books on the genus Capsicum, some of which feature her pepper expertise, photography, botanical drawings, and/or paintings. Her best-selling book Peppers: The Domesticated Capsicums, published by University of Texas (UT) Press in 1984 and later re-published in 2 subsequent editions, includes scientific, cultural, and historical information about peppers.
Aside from peppers, Dr. Andrews was recognized for her books on shells and wildflowers. Such books included The Texas Bluebonnet (UT Press, 1986), Sea Shells of the Texas Coast (UT Press, 1972), and American Wildflower Florilegium (University of North Texas [UNT] Press, 1992).
Dr. Andrews was born in Kingsville, Texas in 1923. She began collecting chiltepins (hot wild peppers) as a young girl in South Texas at the request of her mother.
She earned a bachelor's degree in home economics from UT in 1944, a master's degree in education from what is now Texas A&M at Kingsville in 1966, and a PhD in art from UNT in 1976.
During her time at UNT, Dr. Andrews became even more fascinated with peppers, and after her graduation she searched the globe for different varieties to grow in her garden. She also collected other objects during her extensive travels; she visited more than 100 countries and all 7 continents, including Antarctica. She even learned to scuba-dive so that she could hunt for shells in the waters surrounding the Philippines, the Australian Great Barrier Reef, Costa Rica, Panama, and the Canary Islands.
She ultimately amassed a shell collection of over 20,000 specimens and 900 different species. She donated many of the shells to Texas Memorial Museum in 2003.
Other items that Dr. Andrews collected included bones, skulls, and textiles, which she also incorporated into her art.
Dr. Andrews served as vice-president of the Board of Trustees for the Useful Wild Plants of Texas (1994–1996) and was the first woman inducted into the Hall of Honor for the College of Natural Sciences at UT in 1991.4,5 She was also awarded the Distinguished Alumna award by both UNT (1991) and UT (1997).
—Kelly E. Lindner
