19th century Russian icon.

19th century Russian icon.
"Michael the Archangel and Saints".
Egg tempera on wood.
It presents old retouches, some craquelure and slight faults.
Measurements: 31 x 27 x 2,4 cm.
The present icon depicts St Michael the Archangel flanked by a saint (probably Paraskeva) and an Orthodox saint. The upper register depicts the Virgin falling asleep, among other scenes enlivened by numerous figures, depicted one by one in soft gestures and sumptuous robes. The frontality of the older Orthodox models is broken in favour of softer, more natural gestures, but the icon follows Orthodox precepts in the application of drawing and colour, and in the solution of the symmetrical, finely outlined traces.