A pair of icons of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, Pskov School, 15th century

A pair of icons of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, Pskov School, 15th century

depicting each Archangel in full length facing inwards over a yellow gesso ground
Archangel Michael 52 by 34cm, 20½ by 13⅜ in.; Archangel Gabriel 51.5 by 34cm, 20¼ by 13⅜ in.

Condition Report:
Very good condition overall.

Consistent with works of this age, the panels have undergone professional restoration at least once at the end of the 19th or during the early 20th century. Traces of this are visible to the naked eye and affect the right hand and lower border of Archangel Michael and the lower border of Archangel Gabriel, where the wooden panel is visible under the gesso.

Archangel Gabriel has a fist-sized depression on the left-hand side under his hand, where the gesso has been replaced and restored. The restorer has painted in cracks to disguise this area to maintain consistency with the rest of the panel.

Consistent with panel icons of this age, Archangel Michael has at one stage split vertically and the panel has been repaired. Consequently, there is a vertical line of restoration in the centre. Another vertical crack runs parallel to this between the Archangel's feet and seems to stop in the centre of the panel.

Provenance:
National Museum Fund (named as owner on NarKomPros label)

NarKomPros (People’s Committee for Enlightenment) no. 4826, located in Mertvyi Perulok 9, one hand written-label on the reverse of Archangel Gabriel (a similar sized label, in the same position, has clearly been removed from the reverse of Archangel Michael)

Tretyakov Gallery, painted inventory nos. 6192gtg and 6193gtg on reverse, Archangel Gabriel with label no. 108

Antiquariat, invoice nos. 18889 and 18890

The collection of George R. Hann: this icon was sold by the Bolsheviks to George R. Hann in the 1930s, in whose collection they remained until his death in 1979 and the below sale

Christie's New York, The George R. Hann Collection: Part One, 17-18 April 1980, lot 87

Acquired at the above sale by the present owner