A calendar triptych for the liturgical year, Moscow school, late 16th - early 17th century

starting with September at the upper left wing showing the events and Saints that are commemorated every day, the central panel surmounted with the Descent into Hell, the left wing surmounted with the Ascension of Christ, the Old Testament Trinity on the right, the figures finely depicted on a gilt ground with ochre borders edged in red with copper-gilt and velvet revetment

Restoration to the upper edges, otherwise in excellent condition. Very rare. We would advise propsective buyers to view.
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This calendar with its delicate, miniature icon painting is a full menologium, or Church calendar of religious occasions, in the Byzantine tradition. There are very few complete icons of this type.

The leaves of the triptych show the saints and feast days which correspond to the old Russian Church calendar: September, October and November are on the left-hand leaf, December, January, February, March, April and May in the middle, and June, July and August on the right.

This miniature triptych was obviously made for a family chapel.