Merian Collection

Butterfly illustration by Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717), German-born naturalist and scientific illustrator, engraved by J Mulder, from a visit to Suriname, South America

Butterfly illustration by Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717), German-born naturalist and scientific illustrator, engraved by P Sluyter, from a visit to Suriname, South America

Scarlet Ibis with an Egg, um 1700. Found in the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Handpainted plate by Maria Sibylla Merian
Illustration from Neues Blumenbuch (New Book of Flowers) by Maria Sibylla Merian, published in 1680

COCOA. Branch of a cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao). Line engraving by P. Sluyter after a drawing by Maria Sibylla Merian, from Merians De metamorphosibus insectorum Surinamensium, 1705

Emblema XXXIV balneis concipitur aere nascitur
Emblema XXXIV: In balneis concipitur, and in aere nascitur, rubeus vero factus graditur super aquas. Michaelis Majeri, Secretioris naturae secretorum scrutinium chymicum

"The Hottentot Man." Khoisan man of South Africa wearing animal skin and carrying a bow and arrow
5856476 "The Hottentot Man." Khoisan man of South Africa wearing animal skin and carrying a bow and arrow.; (add.info)

Koisan woman of South Africa in full dress wearing animal skin cape; beaded belt, bracelet, hat and necklace
5856475 Koisan woman of South Africa in full dress wearing animal skin cape; beaded belt, bracelet, hat and necklace.; (add.info)

"The Caffre Man." Native of South Africa holding three spears, naked
5856471 "The Caffre Man." Native of South Africa holding three spears, naked, but wearing a necklace of bones and a red belt around his waist.; (add.info)

African zebra or Equus zebra
5856468 African zebra or Equus zebra.; (add.info.: African zebra or Equus zebra. Hand-colored copperplate engraving from a drawing by Johann Ihle from Ebenezer Sibly's "Universal System of)

Wolverine or Gulo gulo
5856466 Wolverine or Gulo gulo.; (add.info.: Wolverine or Gulo gulo. Hand-colored copperplate engraving from a drawing by George Edwards from Ebenezer Sibly's "Universal System of Natural)

Wolf, fox, jackal, and wild dog of Ceylon Canis lupus, Canis aureus, Vulpes vulpes
5856465 Wolf, fox, jackal, and wild dog of Ceylon Canis lupus, Canis aureus, Vulpes vulpes; (add.info.: Wolf, fox, jackal, and wild dog of Ceylon Canis lupus, Canis aureus)

Weasel, stoat, ermine, polecat, ferret, marten and sable Mustela nivalis, Mustela erminea, Mustela putorius
5856464 Weasel, stoat, ermine, polecat, ferret, marten and sable Mustela nivalis, Mustela erminea, Mustela putorius, Mustela putorius furo, Martes flavigula, Martes zibellina; (add.info.: Weasel)

Stag deer Cervus elaphus
5856457 Stag deer Cervus elaphus; (add.info.: Stag deer Cervus elaphus Hand-colored copperplate engraving from a drawing by Johann Ihle from Ebenezer Sibly's "Universal System of Natural)

Sealion, Otaria flavescens
5856456 Sealion, Otaria flavescens; (add.info.: Sealion Otaria flavescens Hand-colored copperplate engraving from a drawing by Johann Ihle from Ebenezer Sibly's "Universal System of)

Sea otter, capybara (capibara) cavy, guinea pig and spotted cavy Lutra lutra, Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris
5856451 Sea otter, capybara (capibara) cavy, guinea pig and spotted cavy Lutra lutra, Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris, Cavia porcellus, Agouti paca; (add.info.: Sea otter, capybara (capibara) cavy

Long-armed ape (Hylobates)
5856446 Long-armed ape (Hylobates); (add.info.: Long-armed ape (Hylobates) Hand-colored copperplate engraving from a drawing by Johann Ihle from Ebenezer Sibly's "Universal System of

Kangaroo, badger and opossum Macropus giganteus, Meles meles, Didelphis virginiana
5856443 Kangaroo, badger and opossum Macropus giganteus, Meles meles, Didelphis virginiana; (add.info.: Kangaroo, badger and opossum Macropus giganteus, Meles meles)

Great ribbed-nose baboon Mandrillus sphinx
5856433 Great ribbed-nose baboon Mandrillus sphinx; (add.info.: Great ribbed-nose baboon Mandrillus sphinx Hand-colored copperplate engraving from a drawing by Johann Ihle from Ebenezer)

Domesticated orang utan (female) wearing a striped bandana Pongo pygmaeus
5856431 Domesticated orang utan (female) wearing a striped bandana Pongo pygmaeus; (add.info.: Domesticated rang utan (female)

Dromedary camel Camelus dromedarius
5856429 Dromedary camel Camelus dromedarius; (add.info.: Dromedary camel Camelus dromedarius Hand-colored copperplate engraving from a drawing by Johann Ihle from Ebenezer Sibly's)

Merian's opossum, Didelphys dorsigera, with young on its back. (Great wood mouse of America or Surinam rat)
FLO4640649 Merian's opossum, Didelphys dorsigera, with young on its back. (Great wood mouse of America or Surinam rat) Illustration copied from Pierre-Joseph Buchoz after Maria Sybilla Merian

Lanthorn fly or Lantern fly in its luminous state Fulgora lanternaria
5856461 Lanthorn fly or Lantern fly in its luminous state Fulgora lanternaria; (add.info.: Lanthorn fly or Lantern fly in its luminous state Fulgora lanternaria Hand-colored copperplate engraving)

Four-horned ram (Ovis aries) and horns of the Iceland sheep and Cretan sheep
5856454 Four-horned ram (Ovis aries) and horns of the Iceland sheep and Cretan sheep; (add.info.: Four-horned ram (Ovis aries)

Nilgai (nylghan) or white footed antelope (Boselaphus tragocamelus)
5856449 Nilgai (nylghan) or white footed antelope (Boselaphus tragocamelus); (add.info.: Nilgai (nylghan) or white footed antelope (Boselaphus tragocamelus)

Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx)
5856448 Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx); (add.info.: Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) Hand-colored copperplate engraving from a drawing by Johann Ihle from Ebenezer Sibly's "Universal System of

Lynx (Lynx lynx)
5856447 Lynx (Lynx lynx); (add.info.: Lynx (Lynx lynx) Hand-colored copperplate engraving from Ebenezer Sibly's "Universal System of Natural History" 1794

Lemming, hamster, songar rat, blind mole-rat, perfuming shrew (muskrat), and elephant shrew Lemmus lemmus
5856444 Lemming, hamster, songar rat, blind mole-rat, perfuming shrew (muskrat), and elephant shrew Lemmus lemmus, Cricetus cricetus, Mus songarus, Spalax microphthalmus, Ondatra zibethicus

Horse Equus caballus
5856438 Horse Equus caballus; (add.info.: Horse Equus caballus Hand-colored copperplate engraving from Ebenezer Sibly's "Universal System of Natural History" 1794)

Cape or Siberian Mole and common hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus, Scapanus townsendii
5856436 Cape or Siberian Mole and common hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus, Scapanus townsendii; (add.info.: Cape or Siberian Mole and common hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus)

Flying squirrel and striped squirrel Glaucomys sabrinus and Tamias striatus
5856432 Flying squirrel and striped squirrel Glaucomys sabrinus and Tamias striatus; (add.info.: Flying squirrel and striped squirrel Glaucomys sabrinus)

Dog-faced baboon Papio hamadryas, Papio doguera, Cynocephalus
5856428 Dog-faced baboon Papio hamadryas, Papio doguera, Cynocephalus; (add.info.: Dog-faced baboon Papio hamadryas, Papio doguera)

Blue fox Vulpes lagopus
5856426 Blue fox Vulpes lagopus; (add.info.: Blue fox Vulpes lagopus Hand-colored copperplate engraving from Ebenezer Sibly's "Universal System of Natural History" 1794)

Single-spotted butterfly, Papilio spondiae. Illustration drawn and engraved by Richard Polydore Nodder
FLO4681634 Single-spotted butterfly, Papilio spondiae. Illustration drawn and engraved by Richard Polydore Nodder. Handcoloured copperplate engraving from George Shaw

"The Insensible Perspiration." Emblematic figure of a naked man within a cloud
5856481 "The Insensible Perspiration." Emblematic figure of a naked man within a cloud.; (add.info.: "The Insensible Perspiration." Figure of a naked man within a cloud)

Ursiform sloth (Ursus labiatus) and Three-toed sloth (Bradypus torquatus)
5856462 Ursiform sloth (Ursus labiatus) and Three-toed sloth (Bradypus torquatus); (add.info.: Ursiform sloth (Ursus labiatus) and Three-toed sloth (Bradypus torquatus)

The Syrian Goat Capra hircus
5856459 The Syrian Goat Capra hircus; (add.info.: The Syrian Goat Capra hircus Hand-colored copperplate engraving from a drawing by Johann Ihle from Ebenezer Sibly's "Universal System of)

Mythical "sukotyro" and duck-billed platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus, Sukotyro imlieus
5856458 Mythical "sukotyro" and duck-billed platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus, Sukotyro imlieus; (add.info.: Mythical "sukotyro")

Rhinoceros Diceros bicornis
5856455 Rhinoceros Diceros bicornis; (add.info.: Rhinoceros Diceros bicornis Hand-colored copperplate engraving from a drawing by Johann Ihle from Ebenezer Sibly's "Universal System of)

The Orang Utan or Wild Man of the Woods (Pongo pygmaeus) holding a stick
5856450 The Orang Utan or Wild Man of the Woods (Pongo pygmaeus) holding a stick.; (add.info.: The Orang Utan or Wild Man of the Woods (Pongo pygmaeus) holding a stick

Beaver, alpine marmot, bobak marmot and earless marmot Castor canadensis, Marmota marmota, Marmota bobak
5856424 Beaver, alpine marmot, bobak marmot and earless marmot Castor canadensis, Marmota marmota, Marmota bobak; (add.info.: Beaver, alpine marmot)

Magot or Barbary ape (Macaca sylvanus)
5856423 Magot or Barbary ape (Macaca sylvanus); (add.info.: Magot or Barbary ape (Macaca sylvanus) Hand-colored copperplate engraving from a drawing by Johann Ihle from Ebenezer Sibly's

A native of Terra del Fuego
5856484 A native of Terra del Fuego; (add.info.: "A Male Savage of Terra del Fuego" A native of Terra del Fuego wearing necklace, beaded belt, furskin, and carrying a bow and arrow)

"A Native Savage of America." Native American carrying a club, wearing a feathered headdress and short skirt
5856473 "A Native Savage of America." Native American carrying a club, wearing a feathered headdress and short skirt, a large silver plate on his chest

A woman of Terra del Fuego, South America, carrying a baby on her back
5856472 A woman of Terra del Fuego, South America, carrying a baby on her back.; (add.info.: "A Female Savage of Terra del Fuego." A woman of Terra del Fuego, South America)

Egyptian jerboa, Syrian jerboa, dormouse, tamarisk rat, lineated mouse, economic mouse Jaculus orientalis
5856442 Egyptian jerboa, Syrian jerboa, dormouse, tamarisk rat, lineated mouse, economic mouse Jaculus orientalis, Jaculus jaculus, Muscardinus avellanarius, Rattus norvegicus, Mus pumilo

Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius)
5856437 Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius); (add.info.: Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) Hand-colored copperplate engraving from a drawing by George Edwards from Ebenezer Sibly's

Calling hare, alpine hare, varying hare and hooded rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus, Lepus capensis, Lepus timidus
5856435 Calling hare, alpine hare, varying hare and hooded rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus, Lepus capensis, Lepus timidus; (add.info.: Calling hare, alpine hare)

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"Maria Sibylla Merian: A Trailblazer in the World of Natural Illustration" Maria Sibylla Merian, a renowned artist and naturalist, left an indelible mark on the world with her exquisite butterfly illustrations. Her meticulous attention to detail and artistic flair brought these delicate creatures to life on paper. One such masterpiece is her captivating illustration of a Scarlet Ibis with an Egg, painted around 1700. The vibrant colors and intricate patterns showcase Merian's exceptional talent for capturing nature's beauty. Merian's hand-painted plate depicting a cocoa tree branch further highlights her expertise in botanical artistry. This line engraving by P. Sluyter showcases the allure of cocoa trees, which would later become synonymous with indulgent chocolate treats. Her magnum opus, "Surinaamsche Insecten, " or "Insects of Surinam, " remains a testament to her dedication and passion for entomology. Through this work, she shed light on the diverse insect species found in Suriname while showcasing her ability to capture their essence through art. Not limited to insects alone, it also ventured into other realms of illustration. Her collaboration with Matthaeus Merian resulted in stunning engravings like "Spring crocus and European peacock butterfly. " These pieces beautifully intertwine flora and fauna, creating harmonious compositions that celebrate nature's wonders. Even historical events found their way into Maria Sibylla Merian's repertoire. An engraving coloration depicting the Second Defenestration of Prague showcases her versatility as an artist who could seamlessly transition from illustrating butterflies to capturing significant moments in history. As we admire Maria Sibylla Merian's works today, we are reminded not only of her immense talent but also of the pioneering spirit she embodied as a female artist during a time when women faced numerous obstacles in pursuing their passions.