Archangel Michael –
Iconography: Archangel Michael – the Commander of the Fearsome Host
Date: XVI century.
Iconographic school/art center: Pskov icon-painting school
Material: Wood, canvas, levkas, tempera
Dimensions: height 71 cm, width 99 cm
Archangel Michael is represented in the armor, his head covered with a crown, sitting on the fiery winged horse. His left hand keeping the reins is holding a cross and the instruments of Christ’s sufferings, his left hand is holding the Gospel book and the censer (these attributes symbolize the triumph of the New Testament church). In his mouth archangel Michael holds a trumpet which announces the Second Coming of Christ and the Last Judgment. Above his expanded wings is depicted the rainbow. In the upper right part of the icon in the quadrant is depicted the throne with the chalice, the Gospel book and the altar cross close to which is the image of Christ Emmanuel in the aureole. In the lower part of the icon under the limbs of the horse are depicted the defeated Satan and the overthrown town symbolizing the “perilous” world empires.
General view