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Half height banner for Maria Merian exhibition, showing a butterfly
This exhibition is in the past. View our current exhibitions.
MARIA SIBYLLA MERIAN (1647-1717)

Branch of Pomelo with Green-Banded Urania Moth

1702-03

RCIN 921148

The beautiful Green-Banded Urania Moth (Urania leilus) flies during the day. Merian noted that they fly ‘very fast and high’ and that she was therefore able only to catch the caterpillars. Here she uses gold paint to capture the iridescence of the moth’s wings, which she described as ‘gleaming’.

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