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The Iconography Of The Honey Bee In Western Art, Maura Wilson
The Iconography Of The Honey Bee In Western Art, Maura Wilson
Master of Arts in Humanities | Master's Theses 1936 - 2022
This master’s thesis studies the ways in which the honey bee is used as a symbol in Western art, specifically between the 1st century AD and the 17th century. Artists have had a close relationship with honey bees since they first drew scenes of life on cave walls; since then, honey bees have been a recurring image featured in artworks spanning centuries, cultures, and religions. During the Renaissance in Europe, the honey bee was adapted from a symbol associated with fertility and polytheistic cult rituals to become a symbol of eloquence in Christianity. The community-based, diligent nature of …