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Metamorphosis of a silkworm
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Metamorphosis of a silkworm
Metamorphosis of a silkworm, from young caterpillar, shedding skin, spinning silk cocoon, chrysalis stage, and emergence as moth. Handcoloured copperplate engraving from Bertuchs Bilderbuch fur Kinder (Picture Book for Children), Weimar, 1792. Friedrich Johann Bertuch (1747-1822) was a German publisher and man of arts most famous for his 12-volume encyclopedia for children illustrated with 1, 200 engraved plates on natural history, science, costume, mythology, etc. published from 1790-1830. Metamorphosis of a silkworm, from young caterpillar, shedding skin, spinning silk cocoon, chrysalis stage, and emergence as moth. Handcoloured copperplate engraving from Bertuchs Bilderbuch fur Kinder (Picture Book for Children), Weimar, 1792. Friedrich Johann Bertuch (1747-1822) was a German publisher and man of arts most famous for his 12-volume encyclopedia for children illustrated with 1, 200 engraved plates on natural history, science, costume, mythology, etc. published from 1790-1830
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Media ID 23158304
© Florilegius/Mary Evans
Bertuch Bilderbuch Caterpillar Chrysalis Cocoon Educational Encyclopedia Friedrich Johann Kinder Larva Metamorphosis Moth Publisher Pupa Silk Silkworm Skin Weimar
EDITORS COMMENTS
This hand-colored copperplate engraving depicts the metamorphosis of a silkworm, a natural wonder that has fascinated generations. The image begins with a young caterpillar, its tiny body crawling on a leaf, shedding its skin in the process of growing. The next stage shows the caterpillar spinning its silk cocoon around itself, meticulously weaving a protective casing. As the cocoon hardens, the caterpillar transforms into a chrysalis, a transitional phase where the old body dissolves and the new form begins to take shape. Finally, the chrysalis splits open, revealing the fully formed moth, ready to embark on a new life. This enchanting illustration is taken from Friedrich Johann Bertuch's "Bilderbuch fur Kinder" (Picture Book for Children), published in Weimar in 1792. Bertuch was a renowned German publisher and man of arts, best known for his 12-volume encyclopedia for children, which featured over 1,200 engraved plates on various subjects, including natural history, science, costume, and mythology. This particular image showcases the intricacies of the silkworm's metamorphosis, providing an educational and visually appealing experience for young readers. The intricate details of the engraving, combined with the vibrant hand-coloring, make this an exquisite piece of art and a testament to the beauty of the natural world.
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