Maria Sibylla Merian : "Tarantulas and Army Ants" (1705)

Description: "Tarantulas and Army Ants," by Maria Sibylla Merian (Insects of Surinam, 1705) Available Formats • 9" x 12" (Image: 7.5" x 9.25") • 12" x 16" (Image: 10" x 12.31") • 16" x 20" (Image: 13" x 16") • 20" x 24" (Image: 16" x 19.75") • 24" x 30" (Image: 19" x 23.44") Archival Inkjet on Matte Finish Fine Art Paper About the Artwork Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium, or Insects of Surinam, was landmark work by the scientific illustrator and naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian. Merian grew up under the artistic influence of her stepfather, the German still life painter Jacob Marrel, and his pupil, Abraham Mignon. Both were significant figures in the golden age of flower painting who, like their contemporaries, frequently populated their still lifes with insects and spiders—but for Merian these small flourishes took on greater significance; their strange metamorphoses unlocked new worlds. She recalled of her youth that: "I spent my time investigating insects. At the beginning, I started with silk worms in my home town of Frankfurt. I realized that other caterpillars produced beautiful butterflies and moths, and that silkworms did the same. This led me to collect all of the caterpillars I could find in order to see how they changed." Merian published her first book of natural history illustrations at the age of 28 and, fascinated by the "beautiful animals" she had observed in Dutch collections, undertook an expedition to the South American colony of Surinam, where she documented the life cycles of some 186 insect species; their habitats, habits and uses to indigenous people. In an era when it widely imagined that insects were "born of mud" by spontaneous generation, her direct observations altered Europe's basic understanding of the insect kingdom and lit the path to modern entomology. More recently, her work having entered a period of rediscovery, she has been honored on currency, postage stamps, and in a 2013 Google Doodle. Fine Art Quality The Ibis’s giclée process uses archival pigment inks on 100% cotton rag paper to achieve crisp detail and rich, lasting color. Unlike posters, they will not yellow with time, but will maintain their original quality for as long as you own them. Happiness Guarantee All of The Ibis's prints come with a 100% happiness guarantee. If you are disappointed in your purchase for any reason, you are welcome to return it for a full refund.

Price: 23.99 USD

Location: Endicott, New York

End Time: 2024-08-12T16:26:41.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD