Insects and Flowers

With her meticulous depictions of insect metamorphosis, Maria Sibylla Merian raised the standards of natural history illustration. Many of the drawings produced by Merian in the South American jungle were later published as hand-colored engravings in her book Metamorphosis of the Insects of Suriname (1705), which brought her widespread fame. Insects and Flowers, a delightful gift book that reproduces vivid color details of sixteen plates from the book, is a vibrant encapsulation of Merian's volume and features an engaging essay on Merian's life and work.