Description
Insect Metamorphosis The Art of Maria Sibylla Merian Educational Poster 24x36
This poster is 24" x 36" and makes the perfect addition to a classroom, study, and student or children's bedrooms.Insect metamorphosis is taught in every life science class. Each of the nine images on this poster shows the larva, pupa, and a mature specimen of a different insect, making the poster especially appropriate for education.
Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717) was the first artist to paint and show species in their native environments. In 1699, at age 52, she sailed on one of the fragile wooden ships of the day across the vast Atlantic Ocean to the wild, unexplored jungles of South America. There she was able to observe living specimens of remarkable and previously unknown insects.
Each of her magnificent paintings features an insect in all three stages of life. But she went beyond that and showed them on the plant that provides their most frequent habitat or food source. Many are exotic, and all are shown complete with foliage, flowers, and fruit. Merian set the standard for the many botanical and zoological artists who followed. Thus, this poster has great art and art history value
Merian created her superb paintings over 300 years ago, and they have never been surpassed in beauty or scientific accuracy. Her masterpieces are exhibited in museums worldwide. She is the subject of a permanent exhibit at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC. An informative inset tells the fascinating story of this courageous and talented woman who was so many, many years ahead of her time. Her remarkable accomplishments appeal to those interested in the achievements of women.