Maria Sibylla Merian (1647 – 1717) was a naturalist and scientific illustrator. Her detailed observations and documentation of the metamorphosis of the butterfly secured her position as one of the most significant contributors to the field of entomology. Her most famous work is Metamorphasibus Insectorum Surinamensium, was published in 1705, but as an artist she was highly prolific, publishing numerous books and collections during her lifetime, all of which remain highly prized by collectors today.