MARIA SIBYLLA MERIAN

1647-1717

German artist, naturalist, engraver and publisher. Take a trip to Suriname (1699-1701). Pervootkryvatelnitsa world of insects in South America ("Metamorphosis of the Surinamese insects", 1705). Most valuable part of publications, collections, and watercolors by Merian Peter I bought for the museums and libraries in Russia.

From the XVII century to the contemporary names came many brilliant women - mistresses of kings, the voluptuous mistress, beautiful women, winning the hearts of the smartest "men" but the name of our heroine, for unknown reasons, resides in a modest shade of bright names of its contemporaries, the more fortunate in the posthumous fame. But this is completely unfair. Maria Sibylla, of course, completed the destiny of Europe and did not differ in the art of bed to start the war and to conclude a truce, but her life is filled with many extraordinary adventures, and very adventurous deeds, and legacy of Merian - a much more significant to human culture than the "milestone" for its time solution of any ruler.

Her name was known and revered by collectors and growers, artists and publishers, travelers and scholars. Maria Sibylla was one of the first women dared to devote himself to scientific activity, and the sciences - to elect the one most despised. All her life she studied the "loathsome creature" (as they called insects), trying to get to know them and refine their art. She belonged to merit a detailed colorful image and promote the phenomenon of metamorphosis of insects. It is perhaps the first time managed to combine high art with the goals of biological science, to make them serve each other.

The three countries believe Merian his compatriot: she was the daughter of Dutch women, studied at Utrecht School of painters in the Netherlands and spent twenty-five years of life.

Photo — «Maria Sibylla Merian»

Swiss art historians, and historians do not hesitate to call it his artist: in fact, her father - a native of Switzerland. But I was born Maria Sibylla in the German city of Frankfurt-am-Main, two years before the death of his father, who died in a very advanced age, leaving a numerous offspring of two marriages and a reputation of being one of the best publishers and engravers in Germany. Which only books with his own illustrations not published a Matthaus Merian! This prints on the historical and biblical themes, and bulk volumes with maps of newly discovered lands and botanical encyclopedia and loved Matthaus architectural arches. Until now, the old volume to the famous "merianovym stork" - the emblem of the publishing house - is a timeless artistic and cultural value.

In fact, the upbringing and education of Maria Sibylla was the second husband of the mother - Dutch artist Marelle, who, incidentally, first noticed the talent of his stepdaughter, and began to teach her drawing. Netherlands mid XVII century went crazy all over, with regard to color, rare tulip bulbs were valued as highly as diamonds, seamstress best names competed in the compositions of floral embroidery, and the artists were in honor of floral still lifes. The stepfather of Maria Sibylla had a reputation in Germany, perhaps the best representative of a "foreign" drag "floral images, and therefore it is not surprising that our heroine very successfully took possession of skill writings of colorful bouquets.

In the house where Merian grew up, did not know the confusion and turmoil. Pedantic mother Maria Sibylla taught the daughters to work and sound economic management. About any creative bohemia in their environment and have not heard, and artists of that time, more felt the mechanics and experimenters than the "creator of genius. " Johannes Sybil, the mother of Merian, arranged a small workshop for production of silk.

Photo — «Maria Sibylla Merian»

This is somewhat exotic for a European occupation has found enthusiastic support of the entire family. In the garden were planted silk trees, and a spacious indoor contained worms. Johannes Sybil asked her eldest daughter to deliver "silky" pets feed and sort them by means of paper bags. Maybe every other girl in horror would perform these duties, but not Maria Sibylla. She has already had to deal with the prepared butterflies, carefully re-drawing bizarre twists of their color, and to the world of insects alive carried away her imagination.

Seventeen Merian married her stepfather student - Johann Andreas Graf, who at the time "zhenihovstva" seemed the talented and budding artist - the Emperor Leopold I found it possible to order the young artist a formal portrait - but family life has found a complete impracticality, which is gradually destroyed all his youthful ambitions. By moving to Nuremberg, the hometown of Earl, in spite of the legacy left by the printing house and studio, Maria Sibylla felt the grip of financial difficulties become more closely compressed with "throat" of their family. Circumstances have forced a young mother of the family (Merian already had a daughter) to take care of procuring livelihoods. Then she and useful exotic talent and commercial nous.

In Nuremberg period Merian creates nevygorayuschie and water-resistant dyes and in his studio to paint made tablecloths. Decorated with fashionable while motifs - flowers, birds, grasses, trees - the product of Maria Sibylla looked great on both sides of tissue and because of the fantastic properties of paints will not wash off in the wash and do not fade in the sun. In the city of Merian became the most prestigious master of applied art works: ladies eagerly showed her hand towels, and it was thought proper to order a painting in the studio of Maria Sibylla.

Photo — «Maria Sibylla Merian»

Any other person, having reached such significant progress, would satisfy this and would continue to follow the beaten track, but was overcome by Merian thirst for something more. Requests from residents in Nuremberg, to teach them the art of embroidery have guided our heroine to the idea, it is quite natural for her - the daughter of hereditary publishers and engravers - to release a book of floral patterns, the so-called floriegium. Thus appeared the first "Book of Flowers" with painted by hand prints the pretty flowers. Resounding success of this work has prompted the artist to continue the publication and execution of the decision did not prevent even the birth of their second daughter in 1678 - Dorothy Mary. After many years of great Goethe called Merian one of the largest Dutch florists.

Simultaneously, Maria Sibylla formed naturalist inclinations of the observer. "Flowers" took Merian insofar as they bring significant financial returns, but the secret passion of the young women began to insects. Perhaps the New Age vibes with his suddenly awakened interest in wildlife have penetrated into the soul of Merian, perhaps an effect here is something that is simply called a "gift", but Maria Sibylla, who had only the traditionally female education at home, gradually became zapravskim scientist and entomologist.

In the garden, Merian collected caterpillars and brought them home for observation, and once she took to the house of a dead mouse to study worms and larvae in its carcass. In her diary she wrote: "One day in Nuremberg, I brought three young larks, whom I slew. Three hours later, when I was their gut, I found them seventeen thick larvae. They had no legs. The next day they turned into brown eggs. August 26, many of them came out blue and green flies. It was very difficult to catch them.

Photo — «Maria Sibylla Merian»

I caught just five, the rest flew away. " Agree that only the scientific excitement can cause a woman to become so nebrezglivoy.

In 1674 Merian begin a systematic study of insects. It is irrespective of the greatest scientist-naturalist Svammerdama comes to the idea of metamorphosis. I was surprised to Maria Sibylla discovers that everything in the world - plants, animals and people - are subject to unexpected transformations. She begins to prepare a new work - "The Book of the tracks. " Merian was an ambitious task. Hours the artist was watching the changes taking place in a box with treads, and come to sketch them. Do not forget that in the XVII century, many butterflies, not only did not have names, but nobody knew how they develop from a particular track and how the plant feeds on. Merian, using your beautiful talent, fixed like a photographic film of all the vicissitudes of life of the caterpillars that is unique to modern times. From this was born of hard work and a book, get a long title: "An amazing transformation of caterpillars and unusual food colors diligently researched, briefly described, sketched from life, engraved and published Maria Sibylla Earl. "

Issued the "Book of the tracks," our heroine has shown exceptional courage and independence. Of course, she was not threatened with the Inquisition, or ostracism, but superstitious contemporaries considered classes who are interested in Merian, not just low, but sinful and dangerous to the soul. Even after sixty years after the artist's books, continued the work of Maria Sibylla, man - mind you! - Friends persuaded "not deal with these dreadful creatures, no doubt created by the devil. "

Merian tried to guard against ignorance everyman preface, in which pejoratively asked not to reproach her, a modest housewife, for the temptations.

Photo — «Maria Sibylla Merian»

Just in case she graced both sides of the book inspirational poems H. Arnold, more like a spiritual hymns, hoping that the disposition most Merian will become clearer to the reader. Earthly existence is perishable, the person is void to the almighty Absolute, he is only a worm, subject to death, but in the cycle of nature, in constant transformation, the birth of a new life - eternity and beauty of God.

Daughters grew up, Merian became indifferent and indifferent to family life, entertainment and pleasure. Between spouses Graf came alienation. The usual story: a man does not like the independence of the wife, do not want to feel on the sidelines. Contemporaries had already noticed that the books Merian drawings made by her husband, less expressive than her own. What does a person want to be compared in this way? . .

Increasingly, Merian eyes turn to Holland, where justified expelled from the other edge of heretics, scientists, philosophers, and just rebels. Having experienced a taste of free thought, our heroine tries to find like-minded people and stop wasting their lives in the everyday bustle. In 1685 Merian, along with her daughters decides to stay in labadistskoy community - one of many sects, generated by the Reformation. No matter how different views of a preacher from another mode, such organizations are always similar - the heartfelt prayer, hard work in the broad economy and the opportunity to dive in myself. Merian used Valta stay in a castle in the west of the Netherlands to deepen their education. She did not issued a five-year tenure labadistov, but got a rare opportunity to reflect, to assess its place in this world, to understand his own way. And, of course, it's still painted, fixed on the paper to its thinnest pencil entertaining scenes of nature.

A year after the departure of his wife in Waltham came Graf.

Photo — «Maria Sibylla Merian»

He suggested that Maria Sibylla return to the family, even agreed to, in extreme cases, to enter into the community, but was refused and was forced to return to Nuremberg. This unsuccessful attempt of reconciliation resulted in a final break between the spouses. From now on, our heroine all his works began to sign her maiden name, believing, as can be seen that before God, their marriage is destroyed.

As in any closed sect, soon the community began the financial turmoil, bickering and power struggles. Merian in this "rat race" was not involved, but she got bored with measured life, ideas labadistov no longer seemed so pure and lofty as the first. Maria Sibylla did not break with former associates, she just went into the world, while retaining the right to communicate with the sect. Merian so smoothly and without conflict could avoid claims that the preacher labadistov made an exception to the rule: she returned part of her property, she was able to take away in Amsterdam Engraving boards and sketches.

The idea of a trip to South America took possession of Merian, apparently still in the castle Valta. Labadistam patronized by the governor of Suriname - the largest colony of the Netherlands. Not once Maria Sibylla with envy scientist looked at a collection of unusual butterflies, brought from the distant continent. But deciding on the trip was not so simple. The sea was not safe - in addition to storms, the ships threatened by pirates. Alone on the Lesser Antilles have found refuge to thirty thousand thieves.

Unfortunately, the Merian-traveler knows very little. A trip to the New World to put our heroine in a series with the outstanding and courageous pioneers of the era. Even today it is a daring venture is a feat, especially when you consider "comfortable" vessel of the XVII century and the fact that Merian was already over fifty.

Photo — «Maria Sibylla Merian»

Travel to South America has been very fruitful from a scientific point of view. Maria Sibylla with her daughter settled in the most dangerous beach in the upper Suriname River. White colonists constantly threatened by the so-called Maroons - naves, escaped from the plantations and settling on the banks of rivers. In addition, the climate of Suriname - wet and hot - makes staying on the mainland Europeans is extremely difficult.

But Merian did not seem to notice problems. She stunned the abundance of insects. Already on the day of her arrival she has placed throughout the home boxes. The Indians, having heard about a strange lady, every morning crowd at her door, knowing that she buys captured animals. From bags and handbags locals recovered snakes. Price dependent on length. Indian women bring caterpillars, claiming each time that "this worm will grow a beautiful insect.

For two years in Suriname, Maria Sibylla gathered invaluable for the wealth of the collection of insects, caterpillars, butterflies. Her work has long been the most complete etymological reviews on South America.

Merian died in Amsterdam, stricken with paralysis. But her case for a long time kept his daughter very much loved his mother and became for her peers. Younger Dorothea Maria after the death of Merian at the invitation of Emperor Peter I moved to St. Petersburg being built. It can be seen in the offspring for a long time played an adventurous "genes" of the mother. Dorothea Maria brought to Russia a few books Merian and its priceless collections, many of whom unfortunately died.

Merian engravings on the accuracy and beauty of the drawings and to this day do not know no equal in the etymological literature.