Artwork preview

Sutra Cover with Butterflies in a Floral Scroll

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Black and white image of a rectangular textile with a central vertical rectangle containing Chinese characters. The background of the textile has a repeating pattern of white flowers and butterflies on a black background. The central rectangle has a thin white border and a thicker black border. The Chinese characters inside the rectangle are black. The flowers in the background are peony-like with multiple rounded petals. The butterflies have large bodies and two pairs of wings; some appear to be in flight, while others are perched on flowers. The entire image has a textured appearance. The image is titled Sutra Cover with Butterflies in a Floral Scroll.

Artwork Details

Date
15th–16th century
Medium
Silk satin with supplementary weft patterning
Culture
China
Dimensions
215 × 625 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette