Convolvulus and Metamorphosis of the Convolvulus Hawk Moth
1680
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1680
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
You see a pink morning-glory vine climbing up a stem, with a fat green caterpillar, a brown cocoon, and a pale moth all on the same page. Maria Sibylla Merian raised the caterpillars herself so she could draw every stage of their life. She was one of the first scientists to show that insects don’t just appear—they grow from eggs. The painting is both a field guide and a quiet proof of how nature works. Look up more of her work at The Cleveland Museum of Art.
