Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 11

Oliver Samsinger
The Archangel Michael (after the one by Rubliev in the Tretyakov Gallery-Moscow)

2023

$1,170.36
£865.45
€980
CA$1,607.61
A$1,787.57
CHF 935.82
MX$21,835.46
NOK 11,759.54
SEK 11,062.21
DKK 7,461.95

About the Item

The Archangel Michael (after the one by Rubliev in the Tretyakov Gallery-Moscow). This icon is an original work by the Viennese iconographer Oliver Samsinger. According to the artist, it is a very free interpretation of Archangel Michael, inspired by the famous icon by Rubliev which is housed in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. The archangel is shown half-length, dressed in a red tunic with the staff of command in his left hand and the celestial sphere in his right. The background is covered in gold leaf, a technique traditionally used in iconography to express divine light and transcendence, eliminating any sense of earthly time or space. The technique combines tradition with a contemporary sensibility, preserving the spirituality of sacred art while giving the piece a unique and personal character. • Dimensions: 26 x 21 x 3 cm. ( In inches: 10.24x8.27x1.18 "). • Technique: Egg tempera and gold leaf on gesso and wood • About the Artist: Oliver Samsinger is a contemporary artist specializing in Christian iconography. His work belongs to the Orthodox tradition, maintaining fidelity to classical techniques and canons, but with an updated execution and remarkable technical quality. Samsinger combines spiritual rigor with deep mastery of traditional materials, resulting in icons that are both objects of devotion and works of art. Samsinger (Vienna, 1968) began to take an interest in icons in 1990. He undertakes several trips to Bulgaria, Greece, and Cyprus to see in situ the original works treasured in these three countries. This experience will be crucial in his life since the studies carried out in Sofia, the Bulgarian capital, and his stay on Mount Athos constitute his greatest impulse and motivation to dedicate himself to making his own works, in a self-taught way, inspired by the models Russians and Byzantines that he had seen so closely, applying all his technical and artistic skills to his creations. Oliver studies the ancient tradition for the realization of icons: wooden support, egg tempera paint, gold leaf, special varnishes ... it is a long and very elaborate procedure by means of which he makes very personal replicas of important icons of the orthodox church. His icons have been exhibited in the Diocesan Museum of Vienna; also in the old Carmelite Church (KarmeliteKirche) and the Villa Wertheimstein in the same city between 2003 and 2006, and have also had successful presentations in Spain. This is how the artist sums up the technique used by him to create the icon: “The aim of these steps is to create a durable painting. The icon is eternal. The first step is to choose a support, traditionally made of wood, from the center of the trunk to avoid warping it. For this purpose, two hardwood bolts were often used on the back to give the picture panel additional stability. Often a frame is milled out. Then the image carrier is sanded smooth and now 12 or 14 thin layers of gesso are applied and sanded smooth as well. Then the preliminary drawing is applied and the drawing board is prepared with a special preparation called bolus. This bolus can be polished to a high gloss. Afterwards, the gold leaf is "shot" with special brushes. It dries up within a few hours and can now be polished with an agate. Gold leaf is real 24 carat gold . Now does the actual process of painting begin. Egg tempera is made fresh from egg yolk, water and a little vinegar. This is used to prepare the color pigments. Tempera painting is done in numerous layers from dark to light. When the icon is finished, it is left to dry for a few months and varnished with a special varnish called Olifa made from boiled linseed oil and other ingredients”.
  • Creator:
    Oliver Samsinger (1968, Austrian)
  • Creation Year:
    2023
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 10.24 in (26 cm)Width: 8.27 in (21 cm)Depth: 1.19 in (3 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Segovia, ES
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU744316859592

More From This Seller

View All
The archangel Saint Michael, after an icon of the 14th century
Located in Segovia, ES
Archangel Saint Michael after an icon from Constantinople of the 14th Century. Artist: Oliver Samsinger Technique: Egg tempera on gesso and wood, with application of gold leaf Dimens...
Category

2010s Byzantine Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

"The Archangel Gabriel" (after a 10th-century Icon from Hilandar Monastery).
Located in Segovia, ES
"The Archangel Gabriel", after a 10th‑century icon from the Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos Artist: Oliver Samsinger. Technique: Egg tempera on gesso and wood, with gold leaf appli...
Category

2010s Byzantine Portrait Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

Christ Pantocrator" After an Icon in the style of the Moscow School
Located in Segovia, ES
"Christ Pantocrator". After an Icon in the style of the Moscow school (15th century). Somewhat similar to that of Rublev. Author: Oliver Samsinguer Egg tempera and gold leaf on gesso and on wood. Dimensions; (H) 42 x (W) 33.5 x (D) 3.5 cm. (H) 16.54 x (W) 13.19 x (D) 1.38 in. This is how the artist sums up the technique used by him to create the icon: “The aim of these steps is to create a durable painting. The icon is eternal. The first step is to choose a support, traditionally made of wood, from the center of the trunk to avoid warping it. For this purpose, two hardwood bolts were often used on the back to give the picture panel additional stability. Often a frame is milled out. Then the image carrier is sanded smooth and now 12 or 14 thin layers of gesso are applied and sanded smooth as well. Then the preliminary drawing is applied and the drawing board is prepared with a special preparation called bolus. This bolus can be polished to a high gloss. Afterwards, the gold leaf is "shot" with special brushes. It dries up within a few hours and can now be polished with an agate. Gold leaf is real 24-carat gold . Now, the actual process of painting begins. Egg tempera is made fresh from egg yolk, water, and a little vinegar. This is used to prepare the color pigments. Tempera painting is done in numerous layers from dark to light. When the icon is finished, it is left to dry for a few months and varnished with a special varnish called Olifa made from boiled linseed oil and other ingredients”. ABOUT THE ARTIST Oliver Samsinger...
Category

1990s Byzantine Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

Saint John The Forerunner after a Russian Icon from the 16th Century
Located in Segovia, ES
Saint John, The Forerunner, after a Russian Icon from the 16th Century. Tempera and gold leave on gesso over a wooden board. Dimensions: (H) 33 x (W) 25,5 x (D) 4 cm. Photos are included with the icon exposed to very different lighting, but all of them are natural. John, The Forerunner, is depicted as an ascetic desert saint with a tousled beard and a coat made from camel hair. The expression that transmits his beautiful face is very intense. This is how the artist sums up the technique used by him to create the icon: “The aim of these steps is to create a durable painting. The icon is eternal. The first step is to choose a support, traditionally made of wood, from the center of the trunk to avoid warping it. For this purpose, two hardwood bolts were often used on the back to give the picture panel additional stability. Often a frame is milled out. Then the image carrier is sanded smooth and now 12 or 14 thin layers of gesso are applied and sanded smooth as well. Then the preliminary drawing is applied and the drawing board is prepared with a special preparation called bolus. This bolus can be polished to a high gloss. Afterward, the gold leaf is "shot" with special brushes. It dries up within a few hours and can now be polished with agate. Gold leaf is real 24-carat gold . Now does the actual process of painting begins. Egg tempera is made fresh from egg yolk, water, and a little vinegar. This is used to prepare the color pigments. Tempera painting is done in numerous layers from dark to light. When the icon is finished, it is left to dry for a few months and varnished with a special varnish called Olifa made from boiled linseed oil and other ingredients”. ABOUT THE ARTIST Oliver Samsinger...
Category

1990s Byzantine Mixed Media

Materials

Gold Leaf

Christ, the Great High Priest. Greek-Italian style Icon with silver oklad
Located in Segovia, ES
Christ, the Great High Priest. Greek-Italian style Icon with silver filigreed oklad. Egg tempera, over gesso on wood with a silver cover, "oklad", with pol...
Category

1990s Byzantine Figurative Paintings

Materials

Silver

Icon of The Holy Virgin of Tenderness (Korsunskaya).
Located in Segovia, ES
Icon of THE KORSUN VIRGIN (KORSUNSKAYA), egg tempera, and gold leave on gesso, over a piece of wood. Dimensions: (H) 26.5 x (W) 23.5 x (D) 3 cm. Also called The Holy Virgin of Tenderness, represents the Mother of God and infant Christ in a tender cheek-to-cheek embrace. The Virgin's hands tenderly surround the head and hands of the Child Jesus while he takes the cloak of the Mother of God with his left hand and plays with the fingers of his right hand, between his mother's neck and his own. Two very old icons, from the 12th and 13th Centuries, painted on the same theme, are respectively in the Uspenskii Cathedral in Moscow and in the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg. This is how the artist sums up the technique used by him to create the icon: “The aim of these steps is to create a durable painting. The icon is eternal. The first step is to choose a support, traditionally made of wood, from the center of the trunk to avoid warping it. For this purpose, two hardwood bolts were often used on the back to give the picture panel additional stability. Often a frame is milled out. Then the image carrier is sanded smooth and now 12 or 14 thin layers of gesso are applied and sanded smooth as well. Then the preliminary drawing is applied and the drawing board is prepared with a special preparation called bolus. This bolus can be polished to a high gloss. Afterward, the gold leaf is "shot" with special brushes. It dries up within a few hours and can now be polished with agate. Gold leaf is real 24-carat gold. Now, the actual process of painting begins. Egg tempera is made fresh from egg yolk, water and a little vinegar. This is used to prepare the color pigments. Tempera painting is done in numerous layers from dark to light. When the icon is finished, it is left to dry for a few months and varnished with a special varnish called Olifa made from boiled linseed oil and other ingredients”. ABOUT THE ARTIST Oliver Samsinger...
Category

1990s Byzantine Figurative Paintings

Materials

Gold Leaf

You May Also Like

My Angel, Figurative, Classic Art, Original oil Painting, Ready to Hang
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Alexander Litvinov Work: Original oil painting, handmade artwork, one of a kind Medium: Oil on Canvas Style: Classic Figurative Year: 2006 Title: My Angel...
Category

2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Saint Michael Archangel 17th Century Paint Oil on canvas Lombard School
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
17th century Lombard painter Saint Michael Archangel Oil on canvas 139 x 75 cm. - Framed 156 x 91 cm Antique painting with St. Michael the Archangel, immortalised full-length as a ...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Paintings

Materials

Oil

Saint Michael Archangel Reni 17/18th Century Paint Oil on canvas Old master Art
By Guido Reni (Bologna 1575 - 1642)
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
Saint Michael Archangel Guido Reni (Bologna 1575 - 1642) Workshop/Follower of 17th-18th century Oil on canvas (104 x 68 cm. - In frame 109 x 68 cm.) This high quality painting is b...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Paintings

Materials

Oil

Seraphim
Located in Edinburgh, GB
The picture of angel seraphim using expressive brush work.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Saint Michael Archangel López 18th Century Paint Oil on canvas Spanish school
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
18th-century Spanish Colonial School Attributed to Juan Pedro López (Caracas, Venezuela, 1724 - 1787) Saint Michael the Archangel Oil on canvas 91 x...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Paintings

Materials

Oil

Christ in Glory, Classic Art, Original oil Painting, Ready to Hang
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Alexander Litvinov Work: Original oil painting, handmade artwork, one of a kind Medium: Oil on Canvas Style: Classic Figurative Year: 2007 Title: Christ in Glory Size: 38" x...
Category

2010s Impressionist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil