A Triptych icon with Christ Emanuel and ArchangelsRussia, second half of 19th century, Old Belie...

A Triptych icon with Christ Emanuel and ArchangelsRussia, second half of 19th century, Old Believers Workshop Footnotes: Provenance Acquired in Russia by Laurence A. Steinhardt, American Ambassador in the Soviet Union in 1939-1941; personal collection Collection of Steinhardt-Sherlock Foundation Bonhams, Divine Treasures: Important Russian Icons from the collection of Ambassador Laurence A. Steinhardt, New York, April 10, 2014, lot 1026 Literature Wendy R. Salmond,Tradition in Transition: Russian Icons in the Age of the Romanovs, Hillwood Museum & Gardens, Washington, DC, 2004, no. 11, p. 39, illustrated Exhibited Washington, DC, Hillwood Museum & Gardens, Tradition in Transition: Russian Icons in the Age of the Romanovs, 2004 The present lot is a triptych group, comprising three separate icons forming a Deesis: the shoulder-length image of a youthful Christ in the center is flanked by the Archangel Gabriel and Michael, who gently tilt their heads toward Christ. Such groups were placed above entrance gates to cathedrals and palace's interiors. The stylized elegance of the image is reminiscent of the best examples of the sixteen-seventeenth century particularly of the icon painters of famous Stroganov School. Similarity between the central image of the present triptych and an icon attributed to Prokopii Chirin, one of the leading icon painter of the Stroganov School, from the collection of 'New Jerusalem' Museum, suggest that while painting the present group of images icons painters of the Old Believers workshop referred to the well-known prototype of the Stroganov School. Typical for the 19th century stylization of the earlier examples, are certain simplification of the proportions and silhouette, sharper contract between the tonalities, and increased density of pigments. In 1930s professional restorations conducted prior to offering the triptych for sale at the Torgsin store where it was purchased by Ambassador Laurence, were responsible for in-painting of the cream-colored background with strategically placed cracuelure, and additions of fine gold details on the robes of the saints. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: * * VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing