Description in Icons, Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, 2004, cat. no. 171:
The Prophet Moses
Part of Prophet tier of an iconostasis, cat. nos 171-172
(cf. cat. nos 173-174)
Early 18th century, Region of Novgorod
NMI 45

Wood: Alder (Alnus sp.), egg tempera.
Panel made of single board with two
splines inlaid across the panel (both
lost); back covered with ground and
painted brown.

PROVENANCE: Olof Aschberg;
Gift of O.Aschberg 1933
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Kjellin 1933, nos 45–46;
Kjellin 1956, p 156
CONSERVATION: Restored prior to entering
NM: later additions of wood on lower part
of the panel; NM 1969: old crack with
paint blisters repaired. Borders repainted;
panel partly worm-eaten;

These icons formed part of the Proph -
et tier in an iconostasis, where they
would have been situated on the left.
The figures here have attributes instead
of inscribed scrolls: Moses carries the
tablets of the law and Habakkuk part
of a rock instead of a shrubbery. There
has probably been some confusion
here with Daniel and his “stone.. cut
out without hands”. Both these proph -
ets are young and beardless according
to The Painter’s Manual by Dionysius
of Fourna.1 Cat. nos 171–172 and
173–174 probably come from the same
iconostasis.

1 Dionysius of Fourna 1974, pp 28–29.
[slut]