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Archangel Michal, The

Painting
This icon shows a painted miniature of the Archangel Michael on mother-of-pearl, in silver and enamel frame. A Cyrillic caption painted along the top indicates the subject of this painting. The archangel is shown with thinly traced blue/green wings, red-brown shoulder length hair, and is clothed in a gold breastplate, green tunic, and red-gold cape. He holds a gold sphere in one hand with Cyrillic text and a fiery sword in the other. The metal frame has images of winged angel faces in each corner, although some of the wings have broken off. There are hallmark stamps under the bottom edge of the frame. The image is backed in velvet, and there is Cyrillic text carved into the back.

2005.02.005

Panel

Wood

Betsy Scheuring Icon Collection

2005.02

Betsy Scheuring

Gift

Gift of Betsy Scheuring

Alexey Kolotishin

1842 - 1876

Yaroslavl Region

Russia

Makers Mark

Under bottom edge of frame

Eroded symbol (possibly the woman's head with diadem), 84, AK

Cyrillic

AK; Alexey Kolotishin

Inscription

Back of icon

Cursive script

Cyrillic

Icon

Symbol, Religious

Religious Objects

Ceremonial Objects

Category 08: Communication Objects

3-1/2 in

2-3/4 in

Minitura: Small Objects from the Permanent Collection (2007)

Spirit Made Tangible: The Scheuring Icon Collection (2006)

Surveying the Sacred: Analysis of the Scheuring Collection of Eastern Orthodox Icons (2025)

Cultural/Historical Context

The icon portrays the Archangel Michael, chief captain of Heaven’s armies, who is shown with a sword, indicating his reputation as a warrior. In his other hand he holds an orb symbolizing worldly power. The artistic style is decidedly western, as the angel appears in a softly modeled form instead of a more two-dimensional manner characteristic of the Byzantine manner. This small, metal-framed type of icon became popular in the 18th and 19th centuries because of its durability and portability. Other works by the same artist who made this icon can be found in the state museums of Russian art in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Rostov.

Archangel Michal, The picture number 1