Art & Nature Before Audubon: A Closer Look at Maria Sibylla Merian
More than 150 years before Audubon published his images of birds in their natural habitat, Maria Sibylla Merian (German, 1647-1717) published the first natural history book pairing ecologically related flora and fauna.

Her beautiful images of plants and insects has led history to label her as an artist who painted and etched natural history subjects. Although she was a skilled artist, she was also the first person to spend decades studying the relationships of insects and plants.

Merian researched, wrote, illustrated and published several books that revolutionized the study and depictions of nature. In this talk, Dr. Kay Etheridge will discuss Merian’s work in comparison to that of those who followed her, including that of other women.

Free for MFA Members; $15 for Not-Yet-Members (Youth 17 and under are Free!)*
*Program ticket includes Art After Dark admission from 5:00 PM–8:00 PM! Arrive early or stay late to explore the MFA Collection Galleries, Special Exhibitions, and MFA Shop!