Maria Sybilla Merian – Sphinx Moth and Morning Glory – Unisex Tee

Maria Sybilla Merian – Sphinx Moth & Morning Glory – Unisex Tee Plate from Erucarum ortus, alimentum et paradoxa metamorphosis, published in the same year of her death, 1717, by her daughter, Dorothea. Maria Sibylla Merian was born in 1647 in Frankfurt to a well-known Swiss engraver, Mattheus Merian. After her father’s death, when Maria was an infant, her mother soon married Jacob Marrell, the Dutch flower painter. Early on, Maria displayed a talent for drawing, particularly insects, & her stepfather interceded with her mother to allow her to pursue her interests. It was radical step in a time when insects were considered unclean. Maria became fascinated with the metamorphosis of butterflies & all stages of their transitions & habitats. She studied with Abraham Mignon, her father’s pupil and later Johann Graff, whom she subsequently married. In 1679 she published the European Insects, colored by her own hand & that of her daughter Dorothea. In 1685 she converted to Labadism, founded by the French priest Jean de La Badie, and moved with her two daughters to live in their community at Borsch Castle in Holland. Her husband followed her there, but after 17 years the marriage was over & Maria resumed her maiden name. By chance, in the castle was a superb collection of tropical insects from Surinam, brought back by the H V Sommerdych, the owner of the castle & the Governor of the Dutch colony of Surinam. Incredibly, it was the inspiration for Maria & her daughter Dorothea to set sail for Surinam, in South America, known later as French & Dutch Guiana. In the two years there, Maria & her daughter gathered the material & made the drawings for the magnificent Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium, published in 1705, with 60 plates. Most of the plates were engraved by Jon Slayter & Joseph Mulder. Health problems mandated her return to Europe, but her daughter Johanna married a Dutch trader in Surinam and was able to complete more drawings & collect specimens for the second edition of Metamorphosis, with 12 additional plates. It is a breathtaking accomplishment in any age to embark on an extended sojourn in a third world country as a single mother & artist aged 52, accompanied by a child. That Maria not only accomplished this journey, but produced a masterpiece which has never been equaled in botanical illustration defies the imagination & is an inspiration and a gift to all humankind. Sadly Maria suffered a stroke in 1711 and died a pauper in Amsterdam on January 13th, 1717.

All of our apparel is made and printed in the US.
• Direct to garment printed
• Printing is crisp and clear using water-based ecologically-friendly inks.
• Next Level brand super soft shirt that will not shrink after washing.
• Fitted sleeves

CARE INSTRUCTIONS: To ensure a long-lasting print, I recommend washing your shirt inside out and to either hang-dry or tumble-dry it. Avoid heat-drying. SHIPPING ESTIMATES: Shipping estimates vary by location, but expect processing to take 1-7 days. The your order will be shipped via USPS (in the US) or FedEx International. 4-7 days in the US 8-10 in Canada Up to 30 days to all other countries.