Thursday, June 05, 2008

Surinam Insect Metamorphosis

spiders and webs in Maria Sybilla Merian's seminal 18th century illustrated book on insects from Surinam


Metamorphosibus Insectorum Surinamensium (p71)


caterpillar and moth book illustrations


engravings of fruit and flying insects


18th century book engraving of insects


insect illustrations


Merian - south american insect sketches


alligator by Maria Sibella Merian


alligator engraving


insect drawing - 1700s


book illustration - insect engraving


surinam insect - book sketch


exquisite book engraving of insects


caterpillars and moth engravings


Metamorphosibus Insectorum Surinamensium (p78)


Metamorphosibus Insectorum Surinamensium (p95)


18th century insect engravings


Surinam - moth


Surinam - bee


Surinam - tadpole to frog


Moth - Surinam


The posting online this week of a 1719 edition of Dutch entomologist Maria Sybilla (Sibylla)* Merian's 'Metamorphosibus Insectorum Surinamensium' (1705) seemed like an appropriate reason to revisit this exquisite monograph. [see previous entry - Surinam Metamorphosis - for more links and the compelling background to this fifty five year old mother's art/research trip to the South American wilds]

"In Holland, I noted with much astonishment what beautiful animals came from the East and West Indies. I was blessed with having been able to look at both the expensive collection of Doctor Nicolaas Witsen, mayor of Amsterdam and director of the East Indies society, and that of Mr. Jonas Witsen, secretary of Amsterdam.

Moreover I also saw the collections of Mr. Fredericus Ruysch, doctor of medicine and professor of anatomy and botany, Mr. Livinus Vincent, and many other people. In these collections I had found innumerable other insects, but finally if here their origin and their reproduction is unknown, it begs the question as to how they transform, starting from caterpillars and chrysalises and so on. All this has, at the same time, led me to undertake a long dreamed of journey to Suriname." [Foreword]

Sunday, June 01, 2008

The Fisch Wappenbuch

Wappenbuch des Hans Ulrich Fisch b


Wappenbuch des Hans Ulrich Fisch a


Wappenbuch des Hans Ulrich Fisch c


Wappenbuch des Hans Ulrich Fisch e


Wappenbuch des Hans Ulrich Fisch i


Wappenbuch des Hans Ulrich Fisch f


Wappenbuch des Hans Ulrich Fisch g


Wappenbuch des Hans Ulrich Fisch d


Wappenbuch des Hans Ulrich Fisch h


Wappenbuch des Hans Ulrich Fisch


Wappenbuch des Hans Ulrich Fisch j


Wappenbuch des Hans Ulrich Fisch l


Wappenbuch des Hans Ulrich Fisch k

Hans Ulrich Fisch (1583-1647) was a stained glass painter, book illustrator and local politician in the northern Swiss town of Aarau in the canton of Aargau.

Aargau is significant because the 11th century castle in the small town of Habsburg gave rise to the name (and original family seat) of the mighty Habsburg royal dynasty which ruled significant portions of Europe for more than five hundred years.

The eccentric album seen here, produced by Fisch in 1622, is an abbreviated family tree and record of the coat of arms of the Habsburg (Hapsburg) dynasty rulers. No doubt they claimed an impeccable pedigree, with the inclusion of Julius Caesar in their ranks (third picture from top). [Having said that, I think it might be something of a tradition in Wappenbuch (Coat of Arms books)].

2008 is the commemorative year with regards to both the first written mention of the Habsburgs (1108) and also the murder of King Albrecht I of Habsburg Germany in 1308, who was regarded as the founder of the Habsburg empire. {The abbey church of Königsfelden was built 700 years ago in remembrance of the murdered king Albrecht I}

 
Creative Commons License