Vintage Illustration - Tropical Sphinx and Exotic Plant - by Merian

Naturalist Illustration – Tropical Sphinx and Exotic Plant After Maria Sibylla Merian, a great 17th-century naturalist and illustrator Beautiful illustration depicting a large sphinx moth with brown spotted wings perched on a tropical climbing plant with serrated leaves. The composition also shows several striped caterpillars and a small black and yellow butterfly, perfectly illustrating the life cycle of insects in their natural environment. Perfect for framing or vintage wall decoration. 🍀 Large format: 30 X 45 cm 🍀 Condition: Very good condition, minimal traces in the paper – see photos 🍀 Type: Botanical and entomological illustration in color, printed on thick paper, 1964 reproduction of an old engraving 🍀 Origin: From a book dedicated to the Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium collection by Merian 🌿 Many other illustrations available from the same series, all unique, as well as other zoology and botanical images for a refined interior decoration dedicated to nature lovers 🌿 Shipped rolled in a rigid tube, carefully packaged – fast and protected shipping 🌿 Contact me for more information or to benefit from group purchases with discounts and advantageous shipping costs [Ref.51.1Merian-4] 🌻 About the artist: Maria Sibylla Merian (1647–1717), daughter of the engraver and publisher Matthaeus Merian, from childhood, showed a keen interest in plants and insects. Her engravings combine exceptional artistic talent with great scientific rigor. After working in Nuremberg and then in the Netherlands, she stayed in Surinam (Dutch Guiana) from 1699 to 1701 where she observed and illustrated the still little-known richness of tropical plants and butterflies. From this expedition was born her masterpiece Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium. Returning to Europe, she died in Amsterdam in 1717. Nicknamed "the mother of ecology".