Text, Folio 101 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Byzantine icon painting Classical Antiquity Religious

Dominant colour

Text, Folio 101 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra) is a 14 unspecified by Unknown, a Byzantine icon painting work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 14 · Byzantine icon painting
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This is a long, wooden block with rows of tiny carved letters. The letters are packed tightly, filling the whole surface in three sections. Small dots appear between the sections, like bookmarks. The letters look like they’re written in an old script, maybe for a book or religious text. The wood is worn in places, showing it’s been used a lot. If you’re curious about how old books were made, check out The Cleveland Museum of Art.