Metamorphosis of the Lappet by Maria Sibylla Merian

Metamorphosis of the Lappet after 1679

drawing, gouache

gouache

drawing

water colours

egg art

baroque

gouache

curved letter used

handmade artwork painting

german

ceramic

14_17th-century

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

decorative art

watercolor

"Metamorphosis of the Lappet" is a meticulous watercolor illustration by Maria Sibylla Merian, a pioneering entomologist and scientific artist. Created after 1679, this artwork showcases Merian's interest in the life cycle of insects, depicting the distinct stages of a lappet moth, from egg to caterpillar to pupa and finally to adult. The detailed depiction of each stage, set against a simple white background, emphasizes the meticulous observation and scientific accuracy that characterized Merian's work. This artwork is a testament to Merian's groundbreaking contributions to both art and natural history.

Comments

stadelmuseum over 1 year ago

⋮

Merian’s precious vellum drawings with motifs from the Caterpillar Book, published since 1679, were long regarded as the models for the engravings. They have recently proven, however, to be very carefully executed gouache drawings over transfer prints of the plates from the Caterpillar Book, undoubtedly intended for affluent buyers. In the Caterpillar Book, Merian explains that the “miracle caterpillars” depicted in Obj. No. 1495 Z had pupated immediately, before she had been able to identify and draw the corresponding host plant.