Matthaeus Merian der Ältere
Born in 1593.
Died in 1650.
Matthaeus Merian the Elder was a versatile artist, recognised as a draughtsman, engraver, topographer and publisher. His professional career took him to work in Basel and Zurich before he settled in Frankfurt am Main from 1625 onwards. A member of a family of artists, he was the father of Kaspar, Matthäus the Younger and Maria Sibylla Merian, thereby contributing to the continuity of the family’s artistic legacy.
His works bear witness to an era rich in visual exploration and graphic innovation.