Engraving by Bernard Picart: Lyon Pismire or Moth

Beetles, a larva, and a winged insect pose for their anatomy lesson with great seriousness.

This engraving is from England, United Kingdom, and dates to the 18th century. It is ink on paper. Orientalism, a genre of art about the East, is generally traced to Napoleon's 1798 invasion of Egypt, which encouraged scholars and artists to visit and document North Africa and the Middle East. Lettered insect studies surround a round sandy pit drawn in swirling lines on this upright natural history plate. Larvae and a large four-winged fly are labelled A to E. It is 4.8 inches wide and 7.5 high.

Science with a steady hand and a fondness for capital letters.