German, 1647–1717
Maria Sibylla Merian (1647–1717) was a German-born naturalist and botanical artist, and a pioneer of entomology. Fascinated by insects when few studied them, she documented their metamorphosis with unprecedented accuracy and artistry. Her masterpiece, Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium (1705), grew out of a daring, self-funded expedition to Suriname, portraying butterflies, moths and other creatures alongside the tropical plants they fed on. Her exquisite hand-coloured plates remain landmarks of both science and art.
33 artworks
