Emperor Justinian Receiving the First Imported Silkworm Eggs from Nestorian Monks, Plate 2 from "The Introduction of the Silkworm" [Vermis Sericus] 1595

This engraving by Karel van Mallery, "Emperor Justinian Receiving the First Imported Silkworm Eggs from Nestorian Monks," is part of a larger series depicting the history of silk. The image is a detailed depiction of a scene from the 6th century, portraying the Byzantine Emperor Justinian receiving silkworm eggs from monks who traveled to China to obtain them. Mallery's work is a prime example of the 16th-century's fascination with historical accuracy and detail, as well as the growing interest in natural history, particularly the origins and cultivation of valuable resources such as silk.