Triptych Wing with the Archangel Michael and Saints, Greek, 18th century

Tempera painting

Given by Mrs D. S. Saunders

Given by Mrs D. S. Saunders, 1948

This icon was donated to the V&A by Mrs. D S Saunders in 1948. She explains in the registry papers that it had been given to her by a dear friend who had since died.

Historical significance: This triptych wing is provincial in character and is in stable but worn condition. The imagery consists of three horizontal rows, with the Archangel Michael at the top, Saints Peter and Paul in the middle row, and Saint George rescuing the princess from the dragon at the bottom. The figures are all labelled in red, but the inscriptions are heavily worn. The saints depicted are portrayed correctly according to the hierarchy of the saints. The opposite wing would likely have shown, the Archangel Gabriel, clerical saints such as Symeon Stylites or Saint Nicholas in the middle, and Saint Demetrius or Theodore on the bottom. The centre may have displayed the Virgin and Child, or Christ. The reverse of the icon depicts the normal iconography for the front cover of a triptych, the holy cross on Golgotha, with the letters IC and NI. Half of the abbreviation for 'IC XC NI KA', or 'Jesus Christ Conquers'.

W.3-1948