Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717) was a German painter and naturalist who was revered during her lifetime for her huge talent. Her name may not be familiar to most of us but that is our loss: many people do recognise her as a very important naturalist. There are examples of her work in the Royal Collection and two years ago there was an exhibition in her honour, details here (and there is a good lecture by her biographer). Bananas and Large Yellow Underwing Moth is dated 1705.