Wednesday, April 03, 2013

Naturalist and Illustrator: Maria Sibylla Merian

Maria Sibylla Merian, 1647-1717, was a naturalist and illustrator. She was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, to an etcher and book publisher father. After her marriage and the birth of her first daughter, she began methodically to explore and paint nature.

From early on, she was interested in insects. Her first objects of illustration were silkworms and caterpillars. Merian's work had a significant influence on the development of entomology.

On April 02, 2013, Google marked the 366th anniversary of Merian's birth with a Google Doodle. Read more on Maria Sibylla Merian in the book Our Hidden Heritage: Five Centuries of Women Artists by Eleanor Tufts (shelved at 709 TUF), or visit the display in the lobby!

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