A bee orchid (Ophrys apifera Huds)

ITALIAN SCHOOL, 17TH CENTURY A bee orchid (Ophrys apifera Huds) inscribed ‘392’ (upper and lower centre); ‘Testicolo Apino’, ‘Testicolo Apino’ (lower left) and ‘orchis Apiformis flore Purpurascen[...]/ Purpurascente/ Spetie di Testicoli/ da cui virtu è inunaltro/ 929’ (lower right) watercolour and bodycolour, watermark encircled fleur-de-lys, hills, with letter ‘M’ 39.1 x 24.9 cm (15 3/8 x 9 3/4 in.)