The verse inscription from the deposition relief at Santo Domingo de Silos: word, image, and act in medieval art

Abstract

This article analyzes the verse inscription on the relief depicting the Descent from the Cross found in the cloister of the Santo Domingo de Silos. It brings together image and text, relating them to the oral and written cultures. It argues that the Romanesque inscriptions of Silos function as mnemonic devices evoking larger liturgical and devotional texts. By integrating the visual image with the written word, this article underlines the performative dimension of this form of artistic expression.