Maria Sibylla Merian Watercolor Study of a tulip, two marigolds, and two shells

MERIAN, Maria Sibylla (German, 1647-1717).
Study of a tulip, two marigolds, and two shells [possibly an African Marigold on the left and French marigold on the right].
Black lead, pen and black ink, watercolor and bodycolor with brown ink framing lines, on vellum.
Faded and abraded inscription appearing to be in Agneta Block’s hand.
Likely commissioned by Agneta Block.
13 1/2" x 9 5/8" vellum, 23 3/8" x 20 3/8".

Provenance: Private collection of Albert Kennedy-Hall, San Francisco. Sold at Christies 1994 to Arader Galleries.

Tagetes erecta, the Aztec marigold, Mexican marigold Despite being native to the Americas, it is often called the African marigold. In Mexico, this plant is found in the wild in México, Michoacán, Puebla, and Veracruz. The present shells are in the process of being identified.