Description in Icons, Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, 2004, cat. no. 94 A/B:
Selectec Saints in adoration
Left and right part of triptych
First quarter of 17th century, Moscow
NMI 187A/B

Wood: Linden (Tilia sp.), egg tempera
on canvas, metal cover (17th century),
metal halos (one lost), inscription
plates (five lost). Each panel made of
single board with two splines inlaid
from opposite sides; back grounded
and painted ochre with an inscribed
and painted decorative pattern.

PROVENANCE: Olof Aschberg;
Gift of O.Aschberg 1933
EXHIBITIONS: Gothenburg 1970, no 30;
Helsinki 1970, no 30
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Kjellin 1933, no 187; Kjellin
1956, p 291
CONSERVATION: Restored prior to entering
NM: overpaintings and varnish removed;
some parts (specially lower part of lower
left row) overcleaned; NM 1959: retouching,
varnishing (B. Titov). Parts of metal
cover lost, especially on borders
The left panel (cat. no 94 A) depicts,
beginning top left: John of Rila, Pope
Clement, the Archangel Michael (all
three without inscription plates);
second tier: Sergii of Radonezh, Nikon
of Radonezh ? (inscription plate missing),
Varlaam of Khutyn. The right
panel (cat. no 94 B) starting top left:
the Archangel Gabriel, the Metropolitan
Evphimey ?, the Metropolitan Iona
? (no halo); second tier: unknown
monastic saint (inscription plate missing),
Zosima of Solovki, Savvati of
Solovki.
The missing central panel may
have been occupied by an image of the
Mother of God, standing or enthroned,
by a full-length depiction of Christ,
known as the Christ of Smolensk, or
by a Deesis depiction. Cf. for example
the stylistically related and similarly
arranged triptych from the Russian Mu -
seum in St Petersburg (inv. no 2759).1
The marks left by hinges on the insides
of the panels clearly show that they
were wings of a triptych. In view of the
many monastic references, this may
possibly be monastic work.
1 Leningrad 1987, no 48.
[slut]