ID: 700009023 Page link: http://vocab.getty.edu/page/cona/700009023	Record Type: Conceptual

Plates for Luxury Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium (prints (visual works); Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717); 1702-1705)

Note: Set of prints and drawings for a luxury version of Merian's Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium, published in Amsterdam in 1705. To make these versions, Merian (probably assisted by her daughters) appears to have inked sections of each etched plate and run it through the press to create a partial print. While the ink of that print was still wet, she placed a sheet of vellum against it, transferring a reverse image onto the vellum. This ‘counterproof’ was then worked up and coloured by hand. The Royal Collection plates are partially printed and partially hand-drawn, the printing mainly being used for the insects. As Merian was only transferring selected areas of the printed image, she could vary the arrangements of the plates, with the positions of the butterflies and moths subtly altered to create unique compositions.

Titles:

Plates for Luxury Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium (preferred,C,U,RP,English-P,U,U)

Metamorphosis of the Insects of Surinam (C,U,English,U,U)

Catalog Level: multiples

Work Types:

prints (visual works) [300041273] (preferred)

..... (Objects Facet, Visual and Verbal Communication (hierarchy name), Visual Works (hierarchy name), visual works (works), <visual works by material or technique>)

Classifications:

prints (preferred)

Creation Date: 1702-1705

Creator Display:

Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717) [preferred]

artist Merian, Maria Sibylla (German painter and engraver, 1647-1717) [500009826]

Locations:

Not Applicable:

Display Materials: ink, color, on vellum; printed and drawn, hand colored

	ink [300015012]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by function>, coating (material), <coating by form>)

	color (pigment) [300264870]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by function>)

	vellum (parchment) [300011852]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by origin>, biological material, animal material, processed animal material, parchment (animal material))

	printing (process) [300053319]
	.......(Activities Facet, Processes and Techniques (hierarchy name), <processes and techniques by specific type>, <image-making processes and techniques>, <printing and printing processes and techniques>)

	drawing (image-making) [300054196]
	.......(Activities Facet, Processes and Techniques (hierarchy name), <processes and techniques by specific type>, <image-making processes and techniques>, <drawing and drawing techniques>)

	hand coloring [300133555]
	.......(Activities Facet, Processes and Techniques (hierarchy name), <processes and techniques by specific type>, <additive and joining processes and techniques>, coloring (process))

Dimensions: around 37.16 x 30.16 cm (14 5/8 x 11 7/8 inches)

General Subject:

animals (preferred)

Specific Subjects:

	Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium [901001402]
	.....((Literary works: Scientific, Instructional, Encyclopedia, Named written and performed works, Literature and Performing Arts)) (ICON)

	insects [300310470]
	.....(Agents Facet, Living Organisms (hierarchy name), living organisms (entities), Eukaryota (domain), Animalia (kingdom), Arthropoda (phylum), Hexapoda (subphylum)) (AAT)

	metamorphosis (biological event) [300404818]
	.....(Activities Facet, Events (hierarchy name), events (activities), biological events) (AAT)

List/Hierarchical Position:

..... Conceptual Works

.......... Conceptual Works by class: for movable works

Sources and Contributors:
Plates for Luxury Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium	........ [VP]
	........ Royal Collection Trust [online] (2000-)
Metamorphosis of the Insects of Surinam	........ [VP]
	........ J. Paul Getty Museum, collections online (2000-)
	........ Maria Sibylla Merian & Daughters: Exhibition (2008)

Subject: ....... [VP]

....................... Royal Collection Trust [online] (2000-)

....................... Maria Sibylla Merian & Daughters: Exhibition (2008)

Note:
English	..... [VP]
	..... Royal Collection Trust [online] (2000-)
	..... Maria Sibylla Merian & Daughters: Exhibition (2008)