Maria Sibylla Merian Born: 1647 in Frankfurt, Germany Died: 1717 in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Transcription

1 Maria Sibylla Merian Born: 1647 in Frankfurt, Germany Died: 1717 in Amsterdam, Netherlands Naturalist, artist, business-woman, teacher, housewife, mother

2 Purpose of the Slide Presentation To show you: An example: Even when a society has made it difficult for women to do science, women have found a way to proceed. To gain insight into their lives and personalities, it is helpful to look at them and their environment from different perspectives.

3 History 1648: End of Thirty Years War in Europe The longest war fought mostly in Central Europe. Mainly: A religious war between Protestants and Catholics. Other political problems arose. Populations affected by famine and disease. Military financing: Armies expected to be largely selffunding lawlessness imposing severe hardship on population.

4 History : Renaissance (Cultural Movement) Learning based on classical sources (e.g., Greek, Roman literature, philosophy). Development of linear perspective (3-dimensional) painting. Block printing allowed large and cheap production of books. Educational reform (e.g., education not only for the clergy but also for the population, the poor). Jan van Eyk, The Arnolfini Wedding, 1434

5 History : Scientific Revolution Leonardo da Vinci ( ); observational drawings of anatomy and nature. Development of scientific method to focus on empirical evidence. Copernicus ( ); formulation of heliocentric theory. Galileo ( ); improvement of telescope, support for Copernicanism. Vesalius ( ); author of first lecture book on human anatomy (De humani corporis fabrica). Typical result of the improvement of techniques in printing and art.

6 Two Fathers Supported Her. Matthäus Merian Jacob Marrel Father Step-Father Engraver, publisher. Known for his maps/prints of cities (advantage of birth; father died 4 years after her birth). Painter (still life), publisher. Encourages her to paint.

7 Her Interest: Metamorphosis of Butterflies and Moths Metamorphosis of the silkworm moth (1679) By the age of 13, she painted plants and (captured) caterpillars, moths, and butterflies; interested in the metamorphosis of the silkworm. Scholars opinion at this time: insects come from "spontaneous generation of rotting mud (Aristotelian idea); this assumption was not supported by the church.

8 1665: Marriage with J.A. Graff. 1667: First daughter born. Move to Nuremberg: Having students, access to gardens of the rich, creating designs for embroidery patterns. 1678: Second daughter born. 1683: Move back to Frankfurt. 1685: Merian left husband. Move to a protestant commune in the Netherlands with daughters and mother. Her Life 1699: Travel to Surinam for 2 years, sponsored by the city of Amsterdam. Collection of specimens, painting (52 years old) 1715: Stroke heavily affects Merian and her work. 1717: Died, registered as pauper.

9 Her Work Techniques: Watercolors and copper-engraving (for printing). Women were not allowed to paint in oil. 1675: The New Book of Flowers. Model book for artists, embroiderers on silk, and cabinetmakers; 3 volumes (published while in Nuremberg).

10 Her Work 1679: Caterpillars, Their Wondrous Transformation and Peculiar Nourishment from Flowers; 2 volumes. Presentation of development of butterfly & its different stages (egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly) and which food they need. Thus, she uses an ecological approach when doing her research.

11 Her Work 1705: The Metamorphosis of the Insects of Suriname

12 First naturalists to have observed insects directly. Founder of entomology. Largely ignored by contemporary scientists because she published in German. Official language of science: Latin. Her results: Detailed description of the evolution and lifecycle of the insects. Each stage of the change from caterpillar to butterfly depends on a small number of plants for its nourishment. Eggs are laid by the butterfly near these plants. Summary

13 References Essener Kolleg fuer Geschlechterforschung: shtml The Getty Center bitions/merian/ Renate Feyl: Der lautlose Aufbruch (the silent break up), Diana Verlag, 2004