Surinam Portfolio (Exhibition)

Exist Dates

1962 December 1 - 1962 December 31

Biographical or Historical Note

abstract

Exhibition. Opened December 1, 1962 and closed December 31, 1962. Located in Section 2, Floor 1 in the Grand Gallery at the American Museum of Natural History. Surinam Portfolio exhibited naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian's Insects of Surinam, a volume of 72 color plates of the insects of Surinam and plants associated with them together with her earlier volume of European insects.

Summary

Surinam Portfolio exhibited naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian's volume of 72 color plates, Insects of Surinam, which featured insects and the plants associated with them. A different page of the book was shown each day. Insects of Surinam, exhibited with Merian's earlier volume on European insects, was on view in a wall case in the 77th Street foyer. The exhibit was featured as the cover story in the December 1962 issue of Natural History magazine. Both books were permanently housed the Museum Library's Rare Book Room (1, p. 1; 2, p. 60).

This is a condensed summary of the exhibition. For additional information, see Sources and/or Related Resources.

Sources

(1) American Museum of Natural History. Press Release. "Early 18th Century Natural History Book Displayed at Museum During Holidays." November 30, 1962. Departmental Records, DR 101. American Museum of Natural History Library.

(2) American Museum of Natural History. Annual Report. New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1962-1963.

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Related Corporate, Personal, and Family Names

American Museum of Natural History. Department of Library Services.
Merian's books housed in Library's Rare Book Room (1, p. 1)

American Museum of Natural History. Grand Gallery.
Location of exhibition 1962 December 1 – 1962 December 31 (1, p. 1)

Merian, Maria Sibylla 1647-1717
Featured artist (1, p. 1)

Related Resources

American Museum of Natural History. Annual Report. New York: American Museum of Natural History, 1962-1963.
Page 60

American Museum of Natural History press releases, 1933-1990s.
"Early 18th Century Natural History Book Displayed at Museum During Holidays." November 30, 1962.

Histoire des insectes de l'Europe / dessinée d'aprés nature & expliquée par Marie Sibille Merian ; traduite du Hollandois en Fran̨cois par Jean Marret.
Date of resource: 1730; 84 p., 93 leaves of plates : ill. ; 52 cm.; RF-56-F

Metamorphosis insectorum surinamensium. Ofte verandering der Surinaamsche insecten. Waar in de Surinaamsche rupsen en wormen met alle des zelfs veranderingen na het leven afgebeeld en beschreeven worden, zynde elk geplaast op die gewassen, bloemen en vruchten, daar sy op gevonden zyn; waar in ook de generatie der kikvorschen, wonderbaare padden, hagedissen, slangen, spinnen en mieren werden vertoond en beschreeven, alles in America na het leven en levensgroote geschildert en beschreeven. Door Maria Sibylla Merian.
Date of resource: 1705; [2], 60 p., 60 leaves of plates : col. ill. ; 50 cm.; RF-56-H

Natural history.
"Surinam Portfolio." 71, no. 10 (December 1962): 28-41

Two plates from Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium [art reproduction]
Date of resource: [197?]; 2 leaves of plates : col. ; 45 x 29 cm.; RF-95-C [Various Artists, box 9]

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