6143 - Russian

Russian Mid-19th century. Angel with a censer and a candle. Oil on copper, trimmed at the top. 19.1 x 14.5 cm. Inscribed at the top in Cyrillic, presumably reading “Angel of Prayer.” A painting by Timoleon von Neff, closely related in subject matter and painterly quality—albeit considerably larger—was offered on the Danish art market in 2006. The Estonian-born painter of German descent initially studied in Dresden, went to Rome in 1823–24, and has been active in St. Petersburg since 1826. He was appointed court painter to Tsar Nicholas I in 1831. In 1849, he was appointed professor at the St. Petersburg Academy, and in 1864, curator of the Hermitage. His major works include the interior decoration of St. Isaac’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg, the icons on the iconostases of the Russian Chapel in Nice and Wiesbaden, and those of the Church of the Savior in Moscow. It seems plausible that our small devotional image originated from his workshop. - We ask that you request condition reports for the lots, as the condition is usually not mentioned in the catalog. - Please ask for condition reports for individual lots, as the condition is usually not mentioned in the catalog.