Maria Sibylla Merian — Der rupsen begin, voedzel en wonderbaare verandering (1712)

A hand-colored engraving depicts a portrait of the naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian (1647–1717), surrounded by symbols of her work. She is shown in a three-quarter view behind a blue-grey stone ledge, wearing a blue gown with a purple laced bodice, a red mantle, and a black fan-like headpiece. To the left, a large terracotta vase holds a flowering plant with a butterfly and moth nearby; a pair of spectacles rests on the ledge. In the center, Merian’s hands rest near paper and a magnifying glass. To the right, a terrestrial globe, books, and an inkpot are arranged. Propped against the ledge are a botanical drawing, a dragonfly, a wooden board with seashells, and red coral. In the background, a shelf holds two small white sculptures, and a circular golden medallion featuring the Merian family crest (a stork) hangs on the wall. A purple curtain is draped in the upper left.