Merian, Maria Sibylla, 1647-1717

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Besides creating visual images of great beauty, Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717) made observations that revolutionized both botany and zoology. This extraordinary artistscientist was born in Frankfurt. Her father, Matthäus Merian the Elder, was a Swiss printmaker and publisher who died when she was three. One year later her mother married Jacob Marell, a Flemish flower painter and one of Merian's first teachers.

From early childhood, Merian was interested in drawing the animals and plants she saw around her. In 1670, five years after her marriage to the painter Johann Andreas Graff, the family moved to Nuremberg, where Merian published her first illustrated books. In preparation for a catalogue of European moths, butterflies, and other insects, Merian collected, raised, and observed the living insects, rather than working from preserved specimens, as was the norm.

In 1685 Merian left Nuremberg and her husband, from whom she was later divorced, to live with her two daughters and her widowed mother in the Dutch province of West Friesland. After her mother's death, Merian returned to Amsterdam. Eight years later, at the age of 52, Merian took the astonishing step of embarking-with her younger daughter, but no male companion-on a dangerous, three-month trip to the Dutch colony of Surinam, in South America, having received a grant from the City Fathers of Amsterdam. Having seen some of the dried specimens of animals and plants that were popular with European collectors, Merian wanted to study them within their natural habitat. She spent the next two years studying and drawing the indigenous flora and fauna. Forced home by malaria, Merian published her most significant book in 1705. The lavishly illustrated Metamorphosis of the Insects of Surinam established her international reputation. A second, posthumous, edition was published under the title Dissertation in Insect Generations and Metamorphosis in Surinam.

She was the first published woman naturalist and became so respected and well known that many eminent collectors, including Peter the Great, bought her work. Merian died on January 13, 1717 possibly from a stroke.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn includes:ff. 1-45 Maria Sibilla Merian, d 1717 afterwards Graf; German naturalist: History of Caterpillars; translated by J. Petiver: 18th cent.ff. 1-45 b James Petiver, FRS, Apothecary to the Charter-House: Translation by, of M. S. Merian's "His... British Library
referencedIn James Petiver, FRS, Apothecary to the Charter-House: Medical journal: 1687-1710.includes:ff.145, 147 Robert Antrobus, of Eaton: Letters to J.Petiver: 1703/4, 1704.f. 176 Maria Sibilla Merian, d 1717 afterwards Graf; German naturalist: Letters to ... British Library
referencedIn COLLECTION OF AUTOGRAPHS, consisting of notes, superscriptions and subscriptions to letters, signatures, etc., on scraps of paper. Some were the property of James Petiver, apothecary and botanist, in whose correspondence (Sloane MSS. 4062-4067) lette..., 1584-1755 British Library
referencedIn Sir Hans Sloane, Baronet: Original correspondence, chronologically arranged: 17th-18th centt.James Petiver, FRS, Apothecary to the Charter-House: Miscellaneous correspondence (N.B. Petiver died in April 1718, but letters were written to him up to 12 ... British Library
referencedIn James Petiver, FRS, Apothecary to the Charter-House: Collectanea botanica: 17th-18th centt.Writers of Manuscripts: Petiver (James), F.R.S.includes:f. 1 b Hyacinthus Ambrosinus: Phytologia: 17th cent.: Extracts.ff. 3-12 Fabio Colonna, Naturalist: ... British Library
referencedIn Kleps-Hok Collection on Maria Sibylla Merian National Museum of Women in the Arts
referencedIn James Petiver, FRS, Apothecary to the Charter-House: Miscellaneous correspondence (N.B. Petiver died in April 1718, but letters were written to him up to 12 Febr. 1719.): 1697-1718/9, and n.d.Sir Hans Sloane, Baronet: Original correspondence, chronol... British Library
referencedIn James Petiver, FRS, Apothecary to the Charter-House: Miscellaneous correspondence (N.B. Petiver died in April 1718, but letters were written to him up to 12 Febr. 1719.): 1697-1718/9, and n.d.Sir Hans Sloane, Baronet: Original correspondence, chronol... British Library
referencedIn James Petiver, FRS, Apothecary to the Charter-House: Letters and observations on plants and insects: 17th-18th centt.includes:ff. 1-49, 60 b-73, passim Holt: Letters to, from J.Petiver: 1706-1711.ff. 1-49, passim Joseph Holmes, Merchant: Letters ... British Library
referencedIn James Petiver, FRS, Apothecary to the Charter-House: Miscellaneous correspondence (N.B. Petiver died in April 1718, but letters were written to him up to 12 Febr. 1719.): 1697-1718/9, and n.d.Sir Hans Sloane, Baronet: Original correspondence, chronol... British Library
referencedIn James Petiver, FRS, Apothecary to the Charter-House: Letters and observations on plants and insects: 17th-18th centt.includes:ff. 2-152, passim Leadbeater: Letters to, from J. Petiver: 1712-1714.f. 9 b Edward Lhwyd, Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum... British Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
Place Name Admin Code Country
Frankfurt am Main 05 DE
Republic of Suriname 00 SR
Amsterdam 07 NL
Federal Republic of Germany 00 DE
Subject
Entomologists
Scientific illustrators
Occupation
Illustrators
Activity

Person

Birth 1647-04-02

Death 1717-01-13

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