Born in frankfurt in 1647, in her early twenties, merian moved to nuremberg, germany. Kim todd chrysalis, maria sibylla merian and the secrets. The beautifully strange insects of maria sibylla merian. Strange science maria sibylla merian in a world of natural history generalists, maria sibylla merian, also known as maria sybilla merian was a specialist, concentrating almost her entire life on how moths and butterflies metamorphosed from caterpillars. Maria sibylla merian and the art of natural history kate heard thumbnail linnean society the linnean society of london is the worl. But in 1699, at the age of fifty two, she sailed from europe to the new world on an expedition to study metamorphosis. Using her keen observational skills, maria sibylla merian revolutionized both botany and zoology. Maria sibylla merian and the metamorphosis of natural history. From early childhood, she was interested in drawing insects and plants surrounding her. Graceanna lewis frances theodora parsons florence merriam bailey.
Her detailed observations and documentation of the metamorphosis of the butterfly make her a significant contributor to entomology. Maria sibylla merian was born on april 2nd, 1647 in frankfurt on the main. Frankfurt am main 1647 amsterdam 1717 maria sibylla merian april 2, 1647 january, 1717 is known as a german painter and entomologist. A second daughter, dorothea maria, was born in 1678. Maria was born in frankfurt, germany, and then made a living by painting designs onto silks, satins and linens in nurnberg and amsterdam. In 1670, she published her first booka catalog of european, moths, butterflies and other insects. See more ideas about detailed paintings, botanical. Maria from frankfurt germany and her daughters, johanna and dorothea, raised the standards of scientific research and made charts of beautiful artistic ability. Maria sibylla merian and the secrets of metamorphosis does indeed present a detailed and yes also very much meticulously researched portrait of maria sibylla merian s life and times a generally truthful depiction of an artist and scientist who might have lived in late 16th and early 17th century germany and. Shop original maria sybilla merian prints and multiples from the worlds best art galleries. Chrysalis paperback maria sibylla merian and the secrets of metamorphosis. Pen and ink with watercolor and bodycolor on vellum by maria sibylla merian, circa 1704. Maria sibylla merian 16471717 born in frankfurt, germany in 1647 into a family of artists and scholarly printers, maria sibylla was exposed to natural history publications at a young age. Maria sibylla merian was born in frankfurt into a family with a distinguished history in the visual arts, particularly with respect to the study and exploration of the natural world.
Maria sibylla merian 16471717 metamorphosis insectorum. First of all, i love the work of maria sibylla merian. Her eye for detail, interest in firsthand observation and drive to explore the unknown significantly contributed to the advancement of entomology in the seventeenth and eighteenth. Maria sibylla merian scientist, artist, explorer is recognized in europe for a lengthy. Merian received her artistic training from her stepfather, jacob marrel, a student of the still life painter georg flegel.
The observation and detail, color, and even the sense of humor, of these plates, made by the remarkable 50 year old divorced german woman who travelled to surinam from holland accompanied by her young daughter in the late 17th c. It was silkworms that first captured yearold maria sibylla merians attention. Maria sibylla merian died in amsterdam, and her body was buried in an anonymous paupers grave 3,7. So far, this book is a delight to read and the author truly has a gift with words. In 1705, maria sibylla merian self published metamorphosis insectorum surinamensium based on her explorations in suriname in the late 1600s. Her father, matthaus merian, the elder, was a well known copperplate engraver and publisher. Edition of metamorphosis insectorum surinamensium amsterdam, 1705 based on. Maria sibylla merian 16471717 was born in frankfurt into a family of artists and book publishers, and her interest. Maria sibylla merian 16471717 metamorphosis insectorum surinamensium.
Librarian christine kiddey uncovers the fascinating story of the woman behind the remarkable the surinam album, full of lavish illustrations of flora and fauna from the former dutch colony of suriname in south america. Merian, maria sibylla 1647 1717, german artist and naturalist. Alimentum et paradoxa metamorphosis, a compilation of three of maria sibylla merians books published in 1718 and are courtesy of dover publications. Maria sibylla merian 16471717 metamorphosis insectorum surinamensium insects of surinam amsterdam, 1705 handcolored engravings. Maria sibylla merian was born in germany just thirteen years after galileo was prosecuted for proclaiming that the earth orbited the sun. Now theme and content wise kim todds biography of maria sibylla merian chrysalis. In 1670, she and her husband moved to nuremberg, where merian published her first illustrated books. They encouraged the young artist to pursue a career in the arts. The following year merian published her first book on the metamorphosis of european butterflies. Maria sibylla merian german, 16471717 was a pioneering woman of art, science, and business. This image is the basis of plate 38 in metamorphosis, and includes the cecilia metalmark butterfly methone cecilia, the giant sphinx moth cocytius antaeus and the bellyache bush jatropha gossypifolia. He was in poor health when maria was born to his second wife and he died in 1650 in nearby schwalbach. I received this very soon after placing my order and the book arrived in even better condition than described. Merian was among the earliest to illustrate the process of metamorphosis.
Maria sibylla merian 16471717 maria sibylla merian was an early female naturalist who is considered a groundbreaker in both botany and zoology. Maria sibylla merian and the secrets of metamorphosis does indeed present a detailed and yes also very much meticulously researched portrait of maria sibylla merians life and times a generally truthful depiction of an artist and scientist who might have lived in late 16th. Metamorphosis insectorum surinamensium maria sibylla. Maria sibylla merian and the secrets of metamorphosis. In 1705, merian published metamorphosis insectorum surinamensium, for which she became famous. In 1699, along with her daughter, she travelled to surinam to carry out research into the reproduction and development of insects. But in 1699, more than a century before darwin or humboldt, she sailed from amsterdam to south america on an expedition to study insect metamorphosis. Meriam sic, vondel, luyken and others to which is added a fine cabinet of.
Superb reproduction of maria sibylla merians plates from the book insects of surinam. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. She labeled the plants in her illustrations with latin and dutch names, but if a plant was unknown to her, she used indigenous terms. No more than 30 copies of this masterwork are left worldwide.
Maria sibylla merian 2 april 1647 january 1717 was a germanborn naturalist and scientific illustrator, a descendant of the frankfurt branch of the swiss merian family, founders of one of europes largest publishing houses in the 17th century merian received her artistic training from her stepfather, jacob marrel, a student of the still life painter georg flegel. Women of art and sciencejune 10august 31, 2008 this is the first major exhibition of merians work in america. Maria sibylla merian b frankfurt am main, 2 april 1647. Between 1675 and 1680, merians first book, neues blumenbuch, or the new book of flowers, was published sequentially, in three volumes. But on top of that, merian, a germanborn woman who lived in the. The images in maria sibylla merians metamorphosis insectorum surinamensium are among the most dramatic and beautiful in any natural history book, but even as her. Maria sibylla merian was a naturalist and scientific illustrator who studied plants and insects and made detailed paintings about them. Maria sibylla merian 16471717 is considered the first person to travel purely to engage in scientific research while men often conducted such research it was in addition to other primary jobs. Antique watercolour on vellum by maria sibylla meriam. Maria sibylla merian, the woman who made science beautiful. Merian s flower books became popular guides for botanical watercolour painting and embroidery, two art forms available to women at the time. Sep 17, 2015 maria sibylla merian 2 april 1647 january 1717 was a naturalist and scientific illustrator who studied plants and insects and made detailed paintings about them. When looking at the breathtaking results of merians work you have to. To mark this occasion, a facsimile of merians highly successful book will be released.
Metamorphosis insectorum surinamensium by maria sibylla merian. Maria sibylla merian was an early female naturalist who is considered a. After her fathers death, her mother married the stilllife painter jacob marrel, who. Maria sibylla merian metamorphosis observed questions and. Both maria sibyllas biological father and stepfather had careers in the arts and publishing. In 2017, it will be 300 years since maria sibylla merian passed away. Metamorphosis of beetles by maria sibylla merian 16471717. Maria sibylla merian published her best known work, metamorphosis. Maria sibylla merian and the metamorphosis of natural. Metamorphosis insectorum surinamensium published in 1705 was the work of an extremely enterprising and independent woman, maria sibylla merian 16471717. One can go to other, more scholarly books, for a better overview of marians work and life. A copy of maria sibylla merians surinaamsche insecten the insects of surinam, amsterdam 1730, one of the best old scientific works, and one of the most magnificently illustrated books ever created rucker, was offered at ketterer kunst auktions in hamburg, november 21, 2011. Maria sibylla merian 16471717 was a german naturalist and one of the first scientists to depict the life cycles of insects and the plants on which they feed. Maria sibylla merian and the secrets of metamorphosis reprint by todd, kim isbn.
Maria sibylla merian was an extraordinary women who transformed not only the art. Merian was one of the first european naturalists to observe insects directly. It was an unheardof journey for any naturalist at that time, much less a woman, but merian undertook it undaunted with only. Maria sibylla merian, like many european women of the 17th century, stayed busy managing a household and rearing children. At a time when women in science were a rarity, germanborn naturalist and illustrator maria sibylla merian april 2, 1647january, 1717 did for the study of insects what pioneering fossilhunter mary anning did for paleontology and egg collector and scientific illustrator genevieve jones did for ornithology. I also love the mottahedeh tableware pattern inspired by her work and called merian. Maria sibylla merians sumptuously illustrated folio metamorphosis insectorum. An artist turned naturalist, maria sibylla merian was born just thirteen years after galileo was prosecuted for claiming the earth orbited the sun. A masterpiece by maria sibylla merian, one of the greatest female scientists and artists of the seventeenth century. Sketchbook page with rose by maria sibylla merian, 1675 william turner, wassily kandinsky. Maria sibylla merian national museum of women in the arts. Pomeroy and jeyaraney kathirithamby is another gorgeous treatment for a slightly older audiencealthough honestly, both books have crossover appeal for adults. In her three scientic books 5,6, merian described the life cycles of 186 insect species, from the egg to the dying imago, as well as those of frogs and toads.
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