Observations of a Surinam toad
Date
18th century
Creator
Unknown, Artist
After
Maria Sibylla Merian (1647 - 1717, German) , Printmaker
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p5
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 208mm
width (page): 265mm
width (page): 265mm
Subject
Content object
Description
A graphite drawing of the female Surinam toad or pipa toad, which carries its young on its back. This drawing, signed at the bottom right in graphite 'RR del[ineavit]', is related to Maria Sibylla Merian's depiction of the same (c. 1701-05). Prints of Merian's drawings of Surinam flora and fauna were exhibited to the Royal Society at its meeting on 14 July 1703 in order to solicit subscriptions for her book, Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium (1705). Hans Sloane, FRS and collector, owned a set of Merian's drawings, which are now in the British Museum.
Transcription
At the top in ink 'Figu[ura] a[nima];is cuiusdam exotici. The surinam Toad'.
Transcribed by the Making Visible project
Transcribed by the Making Visible project
Object history
14 July 1703, 'Some new engraven prints of plants & insects of Surinam by Madam Sibylla Mariana Graffen were shewn. Many persons present approv’d of the design and promis’d to subscribe towards it' (JBO/11/28).
Associated place