MARIA SIBYLLA MERIAN
DISSERTATIO DE GENERATIONE ET METAMORPHOSIBUS INSECTORUM SURINAMENSIUM, 1726
METAMORPHOSIS
Maria Sibylla Merian's most famous work is presented here in a bilingual edition, in Latin and French. It appeared for the first time in 1705 in folio format with 60 excellently worked copper engravings. This edition has been embellished by adding ten panels from Merian's estate and two pictures from a natural history cabinet. The copper plates are elaborate, and partly coloured with luxurious gold and silver coatings.
In the introduction, Merian declares her authorship, but also mentions the authors whose works she draws on in her treatise. She adopted some of the plant names from the local inhabitants, and later she assigned the Latin names with the help of Caspar Commelin, head of the Botanical Garden in Amsterdam.
Most of the copper engravings follow Merian's characteristic layout, showing the host plant in the centre, surrounded by the insect in its various stages of development. Furthermore Merian portrays other animals such as lizards and frogs that live in the environment of the plant depicted.