MERIAN, Matthew, an eminent painter, was the son of a distinguished engraver of the same name, and was born at Bâle in 1621. After studying under his father and Sandrart, he travelled to complete his education in his art, and became intimate with Vandyck and Rubens in England, with Vouet and Lesueur in France, with Sacchi and Maratti in Italy, and with Jordans in the Netherlands. He settled first at Nuremberg, and afterwards at Frankfurt-on-the-Main. In the latter city he painted, after the style of his master Vandyck, the portraits of the Emperor Leopold I. and several other German princes. These works were rewarded with both money and honours. Yet at the same time Merian conducted the trade in books and prints which his father had left him. He died at Frankfurt in 1687.