2025 Poster Session

Icons of angels represent the supernatural element of Eastern Christian belief in the eternal combat between Good and Evil.

This paper present steps of conservation of the Archangel Michael Icon, it is located in the Virgin Mary Church in the Nile Delta, painted by famous painter in the 18th century in Egypt, Ibrahim Al Naskh, The Copt Ibrahim ibn Sam’an Al Nasih was a notable (Diplomat, scribe, illuminator, icon painter) of a social standing perhaps comparable to that of a pharaonic scribe of old. 

the main problems of this icon which I had to conserve it, was brown varnish, missing of paint layer and preparation layer as the features of the icon are almost lost (as we couldn’t know who the saint represented by this icon), finally the wooden support is very weak. Anyway, the object wasn’t in a stable condition, so this article will discuss the revival and conservation the object through different stages (Consolidation, Cleaning, Filling, Retouching, Varnishing).

This study included the determination of the pigment palette, the gold layer and the white ground layer and the wooden panel. The analytical instruments used were Optical microscopy, Environmental scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray emission and Fourier transform infrared coupled with attenuated total reflectance "FTIR-ATR". The analysis revealed that the pigments used in this icon red lead (Pb3O4), white lead (2PbCO3·Pb (OH)2), orpiment (As2S3), Carbon black and Ultramarin blue (Na,Ca)8(AlSiO4)6(SO4, S,Cl)2 In addition to, the white ground layer comprises calcium Carbonate admixed with animal glue. The gold areas were made of real gold leaves applied over an orange bole layer. 

Keywords: Coptic icon, Conservation, SEM-EDX, FTIR-ATR, Retouching.