A Parrot Tulip, Auriculas, and Red Currants, with a Magpie Moth, its Caterpillar and Pupa - Maria Sibylla Merian

A watercolour on vellum by Maria Sibylla Merian depicts a parrot tulip, auriculas, red currants, and a magpie moth with its caterpillar and pupa. The artwork showcases Merian's skill in botanical illustration and her interest in the natural world.

This watercolour on vellum is by Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717), a German-born naturalist and scientific illustrator. Merian is noted for her detailed depictions of insects and plants, often presented together in ecological relationships. Her approach combined artistic skill with scientific observation, contributing significantly to the fields of entomology and botany. She travelled to Suriname in 1699 to study and document the insect life of the region, an unusual undertaking for a woman at the time. Her work was published in several volumes, including 'Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium'. The artwork features a parrot tulip as its centrepiece, its petals displaying a mix of orange and red hues. Around the tulip are auriculas, red currants, and a magpie moth, along with its caterpillar and pupa. The composition is carefully arranged to display the life cycle of the moth and its interaction with the surrounding flora. The artist's attention to detail is evident in the rendering of the plants and insects, capturing their forms and textures with precision. The background is kept plain, allowing the viewer to focus on the specimens themselves.