A watercolour of a Pineapple (Ananas comosus) with Cockroaches (Periplaneta australasiae and Blattella germanica). This is a version of plate one in Merian's Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium. Merian described the pineapple as ‘the most outstanding of all edible fruits’. She also remarked that cockroaches are ‘the most infamous of all insects in America on account of the great damage they cause to all the inhabitants by spoiling their wool, linen, food and drinks’ [translation from Elizabeth Rücker and William T. Stearn, Maria Sibylla Merian in Surinam, London 1982].
Source: Royal Collection Trust
Tags: Royal Collection Trust Maria Sibylla Merian Ananas Schabe pineapple cockroach
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Maria Sibylla Merian, Frankfurt 1647 - Amsterdam 1717
Maria Sibylla Merian, eine für ihre Zeit ungewöhnliche Frau, war Naturforscherin, Kupferstecherin und Malerin.
Ihr Hauptwerk «Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium» entstand bei einer zweijährigen Reise durch den südamerikanischen Küstenstaat Surinam.
Tags: Maria Sibylla Merian Granatapfelbäumchen small pomgranate tree Bibliothèque Nationale Paris
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A watercolour of a branch of Cotton-Leaf Physicnut (Jatropha gossypifolia) with the life cycle of a Giant Sphinx Moth (Cocytius antaeus) and an unidentified butterfly. This is a version of plate 38 in Merian's Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium. In her accompanying text, Merian noted the medicinal properties of the plant and the impressive length of the Giant Sphinx Moth's proboscis.
Source: Royal Collection Trust
Tags: Royal Collection Trust Maria Sibylla Merian Jatropha gossypiifolia Cocytius antaeus Cotton-leaf physicnut giant sphinx moth
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A watercolour of a Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus) holding a False Coral Snake (Anilius scytale) in its mouth. Merian collected many reptiles during her visit to Suriname (1699-1701) and was planning to publish a volume on Surinamese reptiles if her book on Surinamese insects (Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium, 1705) proved popular. Although the Metamorphosis was a success, her plan for a second book was never realised. Posthumous editions of the Metamorphosis, however, included a version of this image alongside the sixty plates which Merian had published.
Source: Royal Collection Trust
Tags: Royal Collection Trust Maria Sibylla Merian Krokoilkaiman Korallenrollschlange Spectacled caiman false coral snake
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Maria Sibylla Merian, Frankfurt 1647 - Amsterdam 1717
Scharlach-Ibis mit einem Ei / Scarlet Ibis with an Egg (1699/1700)
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Maria Sibylla Merian, eine für ihre Zeit ungewöhnliche Frau, war Naturforscherin, Kupferstecherin und Malerin.
Ihr Hauptwerk «Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium» entstand bei einer zweijährigen Reise durch den südamerikanischen Küstenstaat Surinam. Bis zu Einführung des Euro zierte ihr Porträt und eines ihrer Raupenbilder den 500-Mark-Schein.
Tags: Maria Sibylla Merian Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Scharlach-Ibis Scarlet Ibis Niederlande The Netherlands Nederland
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