Discover the trailblazing work of artist naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian in this beautifully illustrated volume on the life cycle of butterflies and moths.
Maria Sibylla Merian is one of the greatest entomologists of the seventeenth century. Her work documenting the life cycle and transformation of insects yielded a wealth of groundbreaking discoveries, captured vividly in beautiful illustrations.
Originally published in 1705, Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensis documents Merian's research expedition to Suriname in 1699. Over the period of two years, the German naturalist observed many South American butterflies and moths, meticulously recording her findings in a series of 60 stunning full-plate illustrations. Her groundbreaking entomological observations, coupled with her unique artworks, emphasise her invaluable role as a pioneering woman in science.
Merian's work transcends the boundaries between art and science, embodying the brilliant intersection where the two disciplines collide. This facsimile edition from Art Meets Science is a testament to her enduring legacy, showcasing the brilliant outcome of her discoveries whilst celebrating her work as a mainstay of the arts and sciences.
Discover the trailblazing work of artist naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian in this beautifully illustrated volume on the life cycle of butterflies and moths.
Maria Sibylla Merian is one of the greatest entomologists of the seventeenth century. Her work documenting the life cycle and transformation of insects yielded a wealth of groundbreaking discoveries, captured vividly in beautiful illustrations.
Originally published in 1705, Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensis documents Merian's research expedition to Suriname in 1699. Over the period of two years, the German naturalist observed many South American butterflies and moths, meticulously recording her findings in a series of 60 stunning full-plate illustrations. Her groundbreaking entomological observations, coupled with her unique artworks, emphasise her invaluable role as a pioneering woman in science.
Merian's work transcends the boundaries between art and science, embodying the brilliant intersection where the two disciplines collide. This facsimile edition from Art Meets Science is a testament to her enduring legacy, showcasing the brilliant outcome of her discoveries whilst celebrating her work as a mainstay of the arts and sciences.
The splendid engravings in this historic book combine beautiful images of roses, butterflies, tulips, caterpillars, and other specimens of plant and insect life in elegant full-page compositions. Representing a notable achievement from a great age of floral painting and the engraver's art, they reach across the centuries to us with undiminished freshness and appeal, revealing the most delicate nuances of natural forms with a scientist's eye for precise detail.
These fine works represent not only a high point in the history of botanical and zoological art but also an important advance in scientific knowledge as well. The artist, Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717), was one of the first observers to comprehend and record the metamorphoses of insects, most notably the emergence of the butterfly from its caterpillar and chrysalis phases. Her Erucarum Ortus, whose engravings were originally published in the years 1679-1717, was a substantial contribution to the science of entomology and helped lay the foundations for Charles Linnaeus's later work in the classification of plant and animal species.
This edition combines all 154 original engravings from her three-volume work on the insects of Europe. Students and lovers of the natural sciences as well as those of the arts and crafts will find these dazzling works a rich source of information and delight. Graphic artists, textile designers, and others will find it a versatile and royalty-free design resource that will earn a treasured place on their library shelves.