Moths, Caterpillar, and Foliage
By Maria Sibylla Merian
![Picture](/uploads/1/5/1/2/15128252/1610437.jpg?293)
Digital picture of Maria's painting provided by www.artsmia.org
Moths, Caterpillar, and Foliage, is based on the life cycle of the White Witch Moth of Suriname. The painting includes the egg stage, the larvae/caterpillar stage, the cocoon/pupal stage, and two different views of the adult phase. Maria painted the two versions of the adult White Witch Moth so that viewers could see the violet color on the underside of the moths' wings.
This is just one of sixty watercolor paintings in Maria Sibylla Merian's book, Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium. She painted Moths, Caterpillar and Foliage, as well as the others during a stay in Suriname which began in 1699. The book was published in 1705 after she return to Amsterdam.
This is just one of sixty watercolor paintings in Maria Sibylla Merian's book, Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium. She painted Moths, Caterpillar and Foliage, as well as the others during a stay in Suriname which began in 1699. The book was published in 1705 after she return to Amsterdam.