Maria Sibylla Merian's Metamorphosis
Maria Sibylla Merian was a naturalist who studied the process of Metamorphosis. Metamorphosis is when an animal changes its physical appearance by undergoing a task. Maria’s job as a naturalist allowed her to witness the elements of nature. Maria observed the way caterpillars build cocoons that will later on help them transform into a butterfly. By doing this Maria drew diagrams and pictures to represent this process. Using these illustrations and diagrams she was able to describe metamorphosis in her many illustrated works. She was known for discovering a new way of showing science accurately. Maria Sibylla is in important scientist to the world of science because her family inspired her to represent the world of nature through painting,
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achieved the completion of many books about insects and plants, and allowed people to understand science with art.
Maria Sibylla Merian grew a passion for art when she was introduced to painting and nature by her stepfather. She was born on April 2, 1647 in Frankfurt, Germany to her two parents, Matthaus Merian and Johanna Catherine Sibylla. Maria had three brothers, Caspar Merian, Mathaus Merian, Maximillian Merian. Her whole family mainly had a talent and admiration for painting and engraving (“Biography of Naturalist and Artist”). When she was only three years old her father died but her stepfather, who was a still life painter, helped her develop a love for art and insects (“Art Directory”). Maria started a caterpillar collection and was able to witness the process of metamorphosis while she later portrayed. Later in her life Maria married Johann Andreas Graff who was an apprentice to her stepfather. She had two daughters who she named Johanna Helen Helrot and Dorothea Maria Graff (“Merian, Maria Sibylla”). Maria’s family encouraged her to paint the elements of nature which later helped her complete a succession of books.
Maria Sibylla Merian published many books in her scientific career which visually explained the process of metamorphosis.
Her first published book is called, “Caterpillars, Their Wondrous Transformation and Peculiar Nourishment from the Flower,” which explained how insects were able to complete the procedure of metamorphosis. Maria also created books with illustrations of plants and different animals called, “The new book of flowers” (“Biography of Naturalist and Artist”)“Later, she was given the opportunity to travel to South America with one of her daughters to study many different new species of plants and animals. There she was able to start a collection of books called, “The Insects of Suriname,” which explained how the insects from South America went through the stages of metamorphosis (“Dictionary of Scientific Biography”). However, while in South America, she obtained a disease known as malaria which was caused by a mosquito bite, resulting in a stroke and soon died (“Merian, Maria Sibylla”). Sadly she was not able to complete the third volume of her Suriname books, but her daughters completed it for her (“Dictionary of Scientific Biography”). As Maria completed her many books she was able to teach science in a new way which was
perceivable.
In Maria Sibylla Merian’s lifetime, she was able to contribute many discoveries that impacted the scientific world. Many people did not know that caterpillars and butterflies were the same animal, but just in different forms. With Maria’s descriptions and drawings people started to understand how caterpillars were able to change into a different appearance, which was through metamorphosis. Her drawings also helped scientists see the insect undergo metamorphosis in a visual representation. Many scientists show and explain their research with notes, but Maria decided to show her work. In addition, Maria’s way of showing science through art was considered to be a new way for explaining a scientist's findings in a correct way (“Biography of Naturalist and Artist”). Her drawings of metamorphosis encourages other scientists to find a new way to show art, such as through examples. Maria completed many scientific achievements including demonstrating the process of metamorphosis through art.
Maria Sibylla Merian is an uncommon scientist who I just learned about. I figured that everyone would do common scientist such as marie curie or Albert Einstein, so I tried to pick a scientist that is not well known. Even though many are unfamiliar with Maria was very successful in presenting the stages of metamorphosis through her books. She believed that the four stages to metamorphosis are the egg, the caterpillar, the cocoon, and the butterfly. Maria’s theories about the way an insect experiences change through the process of metamorphosis were correct. In fact people enjoy the way Maria showed metamorphosis because it was an accurate representation of science through art.
achieved the completion of many books about insects and plants, and allowed people to understand science with art.
Maria Sibylla Merian grew a passion for art when she was introduced to painting and nature by her stepfather. She was born on April 2, 1647 in Frankfurt, Germany to her two parents, Matthaus Merian and Johanna Catherine Sibylla. Maria had three brothers, Caspar Merian, Mathaus Merian, Maximillian Merian. Her whole family mainly had a talent and admiration for painting and engraving (“Biography of Naturalist and Artist”). When she was only three years old her father died but her stepfather, who was a still life painter, helped her develop a love for art and insects (“Art Directory”). Maria started a caterpillar collection and was able to witness the process of metamorphosis while she later portrayed. Later in her life Maria married Johann Andreas Graff who was an apprentice to her stepfather. She had two daughters who she named Johanna Helen Helrot and Dorothea Maria Graff (“Merian, Maria Sibylla”). Maria’s family encouraged her to paint the elements of nature which later helped her complete a succession of books.
Maria Sibylla Merian published many books in her scientific career which visually explained the process of metamorphosis.
Her first published book is called, “Caterpillars, Their Wondrous Transformation and Peculiar Nourishment from the Flower,” which explained how insects were able to complete the procedure of metamorphosis. Maria also created books with illustrations of plants and different animals called, “The new book of flowers” (“Biography of Naturalist and Artist”)“Later, she was given the opportunity to travel to South America with one of her daughters to study many different new species of plants and animals. There she was able to start a collection of books called, “The Insects of Suriname,” which explained how the insects from South America went through the stages of metamorphosis (“Dictionary of Scientific Biography”). However, while in South America, she obtained a disease known as malaria which was caused by a mosquito bite, resulting in a stroke and soon died (“Merian, Maria Sibylla”). Sadly she was not able to complete the third volume of her Suriname books, but her daughters completed it for her (“Dictionary of Scientific Biography”). As Maria completed her many books she was able to teach science in a new way which was
perceivable.
In Maria Sibylla Merian’s lifetime, she was able to contribute many discoveries that impacted the scientific world. Many people did not know that caterpillars and butterflies were the same animal, but just in different forms. With Maria’s descriptions and drawings people started to understand how caterpillars were able to change into a different appearance, which was through metamorphosis. Her drawings also helped scientists see the insect undergo metamorphosis in a visual representation. Many scientists show and explain their research with notes, but Maria decided to show her work. In addition, Maria’s way of showing science through art was considered to be a new way for explaining a scientist's findings in a correct way (“Biography of Naturalist and Artist”). Her drawings of metamorphosis encourages other scientists to find a new way to show art, such as through examples. Maria completed many scientific achievements including demonstrating the process of metamorphosis through art.
Maria Sibylla Merian is an uncommon scientist who I just learned about. I figured that everyone would do common scientist such as marie curie or Albert Einstein, so I tried to pick a scientist that is not well known. Even though many are unfamiliar with Maria was very successful in presenting the stages of metamorphosis through her books. She believed that the four stages to metamorphosis are the egg, the caterpillar, the cocoon, and the butterfly. Maria’s theories about the way an insect experiences change through the process of metamorphosis were correct. In fact people enjoy the way Maria showed metamorphosis because it was an accurate representation of science through art.