Maria Sibylla Merian
Pioneered scientific illustration of insect metamorphosis
Maria Sibylla Merian was a German-born naturalist and scientific illustrator, a descendant of the Frankfurt branch of the Swiss Merian family. Merian was one of the early European naturalists to observe insects directly. Merian received her artistic training from her stepfather, Jacob Marrel, a student of the still life painter Georg Flegel. Merian published her first book of natural illustrations in 1675. She had started to collect insects as an adolescent and at age 13, she raised silkworms. In 1679, Merian published the first volume of a two-volume series on caterpillars; the second volume followed in 1683. Each volume contained 50 plates engraved and etched by Merian. Merian documented evidence on the process of metamorphosis and the plant hosts of 186 European insect species. Along with the illustrations Merian included a descriptions of their life cycles. In 1699, Merian traveled to Dutch Surinam to study and record the tropical insects. In 1705, she published Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium. Merian's Metamorphosis has been credited with influencing a range of naturalist illustrators. Because of her careful observations and documentation of the metamorphosis of the butterfly, she is considered by David Attenborough to be among the more significant contributors to the field of entomology. She discovered many new facts about insect life through her studies.
Relationship Network
Master student
- Jacob Marrel Master
- Georg Flegel Master
- Abraham Mignon Master
Influenced
Artworks by this artist (333 total)
- Dissertatio de generatione et metamorphosibus insectorum surinamensium Pl.56 1726
- Der Raupen wunderbare Verwandelung und sonderbare Blumen-Nahrung Pl.082 1679-1683
- Dissertation sur la generation et les transformations des insectes de Surinam Pl.05 1705
- Der Raupen wunderbare Verwandelung und sonderbare Blumen-Nahrung Pl.049 1679-1683
- Ludwigia octovalvis 1719
- Muscus-Bloem 1719
- Der Raupen wunderbare Verwandelung und sonderbare Blumen-Nahrung Pl.040 1679-1683
- Der Raupen wunderbare Verwandelung und sonderbare Blumen-Nahrung Pl.089 1679-1683
- Dissertation sur la generation et les transformations des insectes de Surinam Pl.01 1705
- Dissertation sur la generation et les transformations des insectes de Surinam Pl.28 1705
- Rose with Metamorphosis of Leaf Roller and a Glued Beetle Larva after 1679
- Der Raupen wunderbare Verwandelung und sonderbare Blumen-Nahrung Pl.067 1679-1683
- Dissertatio de generatione et metamorphosibus insectorum surinamensium Pl.61 1726
- Dissertation sur la generation et les transformations des insectes de Surinam Pl.30 1705
- Dissertation sur la generation et les transformations des insectes de Surinam Pl.71 1705
- Neflier 1719
- Der Raupen wunderbare Verwandelung und sonderbare Blumen-Nahrung Pl.090 1679-1683
- Der Raupen wunderbare Verwandelung und sonderbare Blumen-Nahrung Pl.004 1679-1683
- Der Raupen wunderbare Verwandelung und sonderbare Blumen-Nahrung Pl.070 1679-1683
- Pomme de Sodome 1719