Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium
By Maria Sibylla Merian, 1647-1717
Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717) sailed to Suriname in 1699 with her daughter Dorothea Maria and studied its insects for two years. Back in the Netherlands she published Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium in 1705: hand-coloured copper engravings showing each caterpillar and butterfly or moth with the plant it feeds on.
After her death Dorothea sold the plates to the Amsterdam publisher Joannes Oosterwijk, who issued a second edition in 1719 with new plates. This series follows that edition, with all 72 plates.
- Published
- 1719
- Sheet
- 14¼ × 20¼ in, the most common size
- Original in
- Teylers Museum, Haarlem
- In our collection
- 72 prints
All 72 prints
72 prints
Pineapple Plant
$185
Pineapple
$185
Soursop
$185
Jatropha Moth, Lizzard & Manioc
$185
Snake and Moth
$185
Thistle
$185
Morpho Achilles & Cherries
$185
Red Jasmine Tree, Plumeria Rubra
$185
Morpho Menelaus & Pomegranate
$185
Cotton Plant
$185
Coral Tree with Emperor Moth
$185
Banana
$185
Yellow Mombin Plum Tree & Blue Moth
$185
Soursop with Owlet Moth
$185
Watermelon
$185
Cashew
$185
Lemon
$185
Tarantula & Weaver Ants in Guava Tree
$185
Guava
$185
Great Owlet Mas
$185
Passion Fruit
$185
Red Amaryllis
$185
Lizard & Banana
$185
Large Horned Beetle
$185
Vanilla Plant
$185
Cocoa Plant
$185
Mantids
$185
Harlequin Beetle
$185
Grapefruit
$185
Racinis Butterfly & Greater Sacktail Castor Oil Plant
$185
Cotton Rose
$185
Black Currant with Butterfly
$185
Fig
$185
Purple Grapes
$185
Painted Lady
$185
Tobacco Plant with Butterfly
$185
Hibiscus Indian Sorrel
$185
Cotton Leaf Jatropha & Mimicry Moth
$185
Emperor Moth
$185
Papaya (3)
$185
Sweet Potato
$185
Hibiscus
$185
Swallow-tailed Butterfly & Passion Flower
$185
Pink Flowered Rocu
$185
Orange Flowers
$185
Snake & Jasmine
$185
Green Grapes
$185
Tabrouba Tree with Stag Capricorn & Herculo Beetles
$185
The complete set
Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium is also available as a complete set: every plate we hold, as a facsimile at the original size, with a title page, a contents page and a certificate, in a Solander box.
Limited to 50 sets. Price on request.