Maria Sibylla Merian: Artist, Scientist, Adventurer

Born in 1647, Maria Sibylla Merian began studying butterflies at thirteen, observing and drawing insects through their life cycles. Her work on metamorphosis preceded other scientists’ accurate published descriptions of the process. Later, she and her daughter traveled thousands of miles from the Netherlands to South American rainforests to observe and illustrate unfamiliar insects. The biography includes Merian’s artwork, a glossary, and a bibliography.