Three Icons Dated by the 19th Century Transferred to the State Hermitage Museum

The State Hermitage Museum came into possession of three icons dated by the 19th century and having unquestionable historical and artistic value. They are:

Descent to Hell – The Resurrection of Christ with 16 small icons and four Evangelists (Russia, painting dating back to the mid-19th century, panel of the earlier period)

Descent to Hell –The Resurrection of Christ with 16 festivals and four Evangelists (Russia, the 19th century)

The Assumption of the Virgin (Russia, Mstyora, the late 19th or the early 20th century)

The story of these icons goes as follows: on 10 September 1994 when examining a car at the Valimaa custom house in Finland the custom officers discovered 11 icons dating back to the 19th century. Experts and art critics from Saint Petersburg museums attributed these icons as having indubitable artistic and historical value. Criminal proceedings were instituted in connection with the attempt of smuggling of 11 icons. In 1995 according to the agreement on mutual cooperation the Finish side transferred the icons and the case under the authority of Russia. With participation of the Territorial Department of Saint Petersburg of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation on preservation of cultural values part of the icons were conveyed to Saint Petersburg Diocese while the most valuable three received the State Hermitage Museum.

Descent to Hell – The Resurrection of Christ with 16 small icons and four Evangelists. Russia, painting dating back to the mid-19th century, the panel of the earlier period.
Wood, priming, tempera, gilding. 40,5 x 33,4 cm. The icon is in a shrine.
State of preservation is satisfactory. The icon was restored in the 20th century.

Descent to Hell – The Resurrection of Christ with 16 festivals and four Evangelists. Russia, the19th century.
Wood, priming, tempera, gilding. 53 x 43,5 cm. The icon is in a shallow shrine.
State of preservation is satisfactory. The icon was restored in the 20th century.

The Assumption of the Virgin. Russia, Mstyora, the late 19th or the early 20th century.
Wood, priming, tempera, gilding. 31 x 26,7 cm. The icon is in a shrine. The back side bears the inscription made with Indian ink Alexander Ustinov, on the sides of the icon the inscription The Assumption of the V. 2202. The state of preservation is satisfactory. The icon was substantially renewed in the 20th century.