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Maria Sibilla Merian

* 1647 in Frankfurt am Main
+ 1717 in Amsterdam


   

Maria Sibilla Merian


Maria Sibylla Merian was a German-born naturalist and scientific illustrator,
a descendant of the Frankfurt branch of the Swiss Merian family.
Merian was one of the early European naturalists to observe insects directly.

Merian published her first book of natural illustrations in 1675.
In 1679 and 1683, Merian published a two-volume series on caterpillars.
Each volume contained 50 plates that she engraved and etched.
Merian documented evidence on the process of metamorphosis and the plant hosts of 186 European insect species.
Along with the illustrations Merian included descriptions of their life cycles.


2020 J. Giesen