Maria Sybilla Merian (1647-1717) was a trailblazing entomologist, scientific traveller, artist and herpetologist. She is increasingly well known for her work on insects and their life-cycles but she also planned to publish a book on reptiles. Her ‘reptile book’ was never published but she did include a number of amphibians and reptiles in her great work on the insects of Surinam and these are the illustrations we are highlighting in this blog, demonstrating her keen interest in herpetology.
All these illustrations are in our copy of Dissertation sur la génération et les transformations des insectes de Surinam... par Marie Sibille Merian. La Haye : Cosse, 1726. Parallel texts Latin-French. French translation by Jean Rousset de Missy. Our copy of her magnificent book was published posthumously in 1726 and contains some additional illustrations when compared to the edition published in 1705.
Maria Merian, at the age of 52 and accompanied by one of her daughters, Dorothea, sailed to Surinam in 1699. In the introduction to the book Maria Merian outlines some of the difficulties she encountered including extreme heat, the humidity, the impenetrable rain forest, the attitudes of the other Europeans there who were only interested in sugar production, the lack of advice and access to information. For example, plants would grow in her garden but there was no-one to help with identification. She became ill and had to return to Amsterdam earlier than planned where she worked on preparing for publication. Her other daughter, Johanna had married Jacob Henrik Herolt in 1692, he became a merchant trading with Surinam, when they moved there, she sent specimens to her mother who could sell them on to collectors, helping to cover the costs of the expedition. The results of Maria Merian’s journey was her magnum opus Dissertation sur la génération et les transformations des insectes de Surinam in which she depicted many species for the first time and frequently life size. Both her daughters assisted with the illustrations and the colouring of the prints (Heard, 2016).
As well as studying the metamorphosis of insects in Surinam, she studied the metamorphosis of amphibians. Her book includes an image and description of the unusual Surinam toad, Maria Merian was the first European to describe this species. The female toad carries the fertilised eggs under a layer of skin on her back, they develop into tadpoles then froglets on her back before breaking through their mother’s skin to swim away.
Her book also includes additional images featuring amphibians.
Further reading:
One of our earlier blogs - The remarkable Marie Sibelle Merian
Etheridge, Kay with translations from German by Michael Ritterson (2021). Maria Sibylla Merian’s artistic entomology ArtHerStory Post/Blog
Heard, Kate (2016). Maria Merian’s butterflies. London : Royal Collection Trust.
Magee, Judith (2009). Art of nature : three centuries of natural history art from around the world. London : Natural History Museum.
Owens, Susan (2007). Maria Sibylla Merian : ‘Great diligence, grace and spirit’ In Amazing rare things : the art of natural history in the age of discovery, David Attenborough et al. London : Royal Collection Publications.
Steinkraus, Emma (2019).The protofeminist insects of Giovanna Garzoni and Maria Sibylla Merian ArtHerStory Post/Blog
You may also be interested in these other ZSL Library & Archives blogs which feature Maria Merian - HERpers : Women and herpetology and Women, art and zoology: Celebrating International Women’s Day with female artists and illustrators
ZSL Prince Philip Zoological Library & Archives is a wonderful and unique information resource about animals and their conservation – we aim to inspire, inform, and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Information is vitally important in conservation.
ZSL Prince Philip Zoological Library & Archives is currently open on Tuedays and Wednesdays by appointment only, please email in advance library@zsl.org
Please note we will be closed over the Christmas period. Our last day open is Wednesday 15 December 2021 and we hope to reopen on Tuesday 11 January 2022 to welcome back visitors. However our reopening date may change depending on government advice.
You can explore and discover our collections in a variety of ways –
- Current services for ZSL Fellows include 'click and collect' loans and a 'scan and send' service.
- Use our online catalogue
- Read our monthly blog highlighting items in our collections
- Follow us on Twitter @ZSLLibrary during the Christmas period we will be tweeting images of crocodilians from our collections using the hashtag #Crocmas
- See also our Welcome to ZSL Library & Archives on YouTube
ZSLGolden tegu lizard
Thanks to James Godwin for photographing the images from Merian's book.
Select a blog
Our people are our greatest asset and we realise our vision for a world where wildlife thrives through their ideas, skills and passion. An inspired, informed and empowered community of people work, study and volunteer together at ZSL.
At ZSL, a key area of our work is the employment of Nature-based Solutions – an approach which both adapt to and mitigates the impacts of climate change. These Solutions, which include habitat protection and restoration, are low-cost yet high-impact, and provide multiple benefits to people and wildlife. We ensure that biodiversity recovery is at the heart of nature-based solutions.
A blog for lovers of ZSL London Zoo, bringing you extraordinary animal facts and exclusive access to the world's oldest scientific zoo.
Do you love wildlife? Discover more about our amazing animals at the UK's biggest zoo!
We're working around the world to conserve animals and their habitats, find out more about our latest achievements.
From the field to the lab, catch up with the scientists on the cutting edge of conservation biology at ZSL’s Institute of Zoology.
A day in Discovery and Learning at ZSL is never dull! The team tell us all about the exciting sessions for school children, as well as work further afield.
Every month, one of the pieces held in ZSL’s Library and at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo will feature here as Artefact of the Month.
Read testimonials from our Members and extracts from ZSL's award winning members' magazine, Wild About.
ZSL works across Asia, from the famous national parks of Nepal to marine protected areas in the Philippines. Read the latest updates on our conservation.
An Open Access journal for research at the interface of remote sensing, ecology and conservation.
