Maria Sibylla Merian

Scientific Illustrator

Born on 2nd April 1647

Early Life

• Maria Sibylla Merian was born in Frankfurt, Germany.

• Her stepfather was a still-life artist. He gave her artistic training when she was a child.

• At the age of 13 she produced her first detailed images of insects.

• She was a very talented artist. • She was interested in insects and liked to draw

them to see if they changed.• She travelled to Suriname in South America

for 2 years to draw insects, animals and plants.

Her work

• In 1705 she published ´Metamorphosis Insectorum Surineum´.

• Her illustrations showed how animals changed.

• Her drawings displayed the metamorphosis of animals.

• For example, caterpillars becoming butterflys.• And tadpoles becoming frogs.

Death

• In 1715 she suffered a stroke, which left her partially paralysed.

• This affected her work.• She died on January 13th 1717.• Her face was put on a stamp and a bank note

in Germany.