Citrus Fruit and Beetle, 1705-1771
Hand-colored etching and engravingexpand_more
The Minnich Collection The Ethel Morrison Van DerLip Fund, 1966expand_more P.18,721
Not on Viewexpand_more
This large citron, Citrus medica (Linnaeus), grows as a shrub or tree to about twelve feet tall and was introduced to South America during the sixteenth or seventeenth centuries. Merian commented "They are candied; in Holland they are baked in gingerbread." The colorful insect is the Harlequin beetle, a species found from southern Mexico to northern Argentina. Merian admired it very much, saying; "The beautiful black beetle decorated with red and yellow flecks shown resting on the fruit was added on account of its rarity to complete and decorate the engraving, although I do not know its origin; I gladly leave it to others to investigate this creature further."
Details
- Title
- Citrus Fruit and Beetle
- Artist Life
- 1647-1717
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- P.18,721
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Nissen: 1342; Cat. Ger. Nat'l Museum, 1967
- Curator Approved
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