The ‘Painter’s Manual’ of Dionysius of Fourna

Among the oldest of the Greek style narrative patternbooks and instruction texts extant. A classic hermeneia (‘interpretation’ of ‘expounding’ literally), this oversize, small-print gem includes introductory sections on iconpainting techniques and describes several thousand figures of saints, Old and New Testament events, parables, feast days, decoration of churches, color, etc. Detailed appendices make this a reference and source document ‘par excellence’. Compiled on Mt. Athos from 1730-34, from ancient and then-current sources.