The artwork, titled “Archangels Michael and Gabriel,” was created by an unknown artist associated with Orthodox Icons around the year 1150. It falls within the Middle Byzantine art movement, specifically the Komnenian style, which prevailed from 1081 to 1185. This piece belongs to the genre of icons and is part of the “Angels and Ethereal Powers” series. It is currently housed at Saint Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai in Egypt.
The artwork features the archangels Michael and Gabriel depicted in full-length, standing poses. Both figures are adorned in traditional Byzantine garments, characterized by intricate patterns and rich, vivid colors—Michael in red and Gabriel in blue. Their wings are prominently displayed, symbolizing their angelic nature. Each archangel holds a scroll, indicative of their roles as messengers of God. The background is a gold-leaf surface, a signature feature of Byzantine iconography, intended to evoke a sense of the divine and the ethereal. The intricate details and solemn expressions of the archangels emphasize their sacred and authoritative presences.
