Artful Nature and the Legacy of Maria Sibylla Meria

September 4 – November 12, 2019 Opening Reception: September 4, 5-7 pm

Gallery Talk with Emily Roush ’21 and Shannon Zeltmann ’21: September 27, noon (light lunch provided)

Gallery Talk with Prof. Kay Etheridge: October 4, noon (light lunch provided)

Original eighteenth-century prints by German naturalist and artist Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717) as well as those by her followers—including Carolus Linnaeus, Christiaan Sepp, and others—are featured in this exhibition curated by Gettysburg College students Emily Roush ’21 and Shannon Zeltmann ’21 under the direction of Prof. Felicia Else and Prof. Kay Etheridge. These intricate, accurate, and compellingly beautiful compositions reflect the artists’ and scientists’ extensive travels, dedication to scientific inquiry, and a thorough, innovative understanding of ecological frameworks. This exhibition is made possible by a generous gift by Bruce and Betsy Stefany and loans from Professor Kay Etheridge.

Image: Maria Sibylla Merian, Plate 33, Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium (Metamorphosis of the Insects of Surinam), 1705, hand-colored engraving, 13 x 19.5 in., Special Collections and College Archives, Musselman Library, Purchase made possible by Betsy A. and Bruce R. Stefany ‘71.