The Gathering of Mulberry Leaves and the Feeding of the Silkworms, Plate 5 from "The Introduction of the Silkworm" [Vermis Sericus]
Karel van Mallery Netherlandish
After Jan van der Straet, called Stradanus Netherlandish
Publisher Philips Galle Netherlandish
Not on view
Fifth plate from the series Vermis Sericus, engraved by Karel van Mallery, after Jan van der Straet, called Stradanus, and published by Philips Galle around 1595. Illustration of men and women gathering mulberry leaves to feed the silkworms. On the left women pick mulberry leaves from trees outside and carry them in baskets upon their heads inside to be laid upon shelves. In the background in the center women place the leaves upon shelves, and in the foreground a man pours out a sack of leaves. On the right a woman sweeps the leaves on the floor with a broom, while another organizes the leaves of a shelf.