Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium - Verandering der Surinaamsche insecten - Transformation of the Surinamese insects, 1705

Description:

Facsimile of this masterpiece by Maria Sibylla Merian, one of the greatest female scientists and artists of the 17th century.

Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium (published in 1705) was the work of a very enterprising and independent woman, Maria Sibylla Merian. In 1699 she traveled specifically to Suriname to do research into the reproduction and metamorphis of insects. Today she is regarded as a highly gifted artist, and also an empirical scientist, who was one of the first to dismiss the common notion of spontaneous generation of insects to the realm of fiction.

This facsimile is preceded by several essays in Dutch and English on the life of Maria Sibylla Merian, covering her entire body of work and her time. The original texts are translated into English at the rear of the book. Includes an index of plant, animal and insect names.