Yesterday was #WordBeeDay. The first illustration of a bee that was made with the help of a microscope was from around 1630. Francesco Stelluti wrote a commented translation of Persius' satires. The satires had nothing to do with bees but Stelluti hoped for a patron for his work. He dedicated his translation to Cardinal Francesco Barberini whose family crest contained of three bees.
#barberini #illustration #insects