Auction 46 - Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
Portrait of Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson – Tzemach Tzedek – Lithograph – Vilnius, 1886
Opening: $1,500
Sold for: $3,500
Including buyer's premium
"Lezecher Olam Yihiye Tzadik! Picture of the Rabbi, the Tzadik, Gaon Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch". Lithographic printing, N. Metz. Vilnius, 1886.
In the picture, the Rebbe is portrayed in his home, on the background of his library, dressed in white Shabbath garments. A book on his knees with his eyeglasses on it. Below the portrait appears the inscription "Lezecher Olam Yihiye Tzadik! Picture of the Rabbi, the Tzadik, Gaon Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch of blessed memory" and the inscription "Portrait of the rabbi of Lubavitch, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson" (Russian).
the portrait was created after an oil painting painted in Tzemach Tzedek's old age. In issue 96 of the periodical "Di Yidishe Heym" (p. 15), it is described: "An unknown painter, non-Jewish, wished to paint the portrait of Tzemach Tzedek, however, knowing that he will not be able to do so in the regular manner – as the Tzemach Tzedekwill not agree – he had an idea: he came on a Saturday to Tzemach Tzedek, looked at him closely until he succeeded to memorize his holy face. In order to retain the moment in his memory, the painter hurried home, with his eyes almost closed, and as soon as he arrived he took his painting tools and started to draw what he saw – on canvas. Later, when Tzemach Tzedek saw the painting, he was sorry about it since it was painted on Shabbath (the Tzemach Tzedek is portrayed in his Shabbath garments), but found "comfort" since the painter made mistakes: (a) the gentile painter painted the overcoat of the Tzemach Tzedek folded from left to right – as done by non-Jews, since Jews do the opposite, with the right side covering the left one. (b). the Tzemach Tzedek is seen holding a book. While holy books are written and read from right to left, and this is the way they are opened – from right, the gentile painter drew the book like the books of gentiles – opened and read from left to right".
this painting was used as a source for numerous prints. this lithograph is the first print known to have been created after the painting. In later prints the plate of the print was reversed so as to portray the book as being opened from right to left and the right lapel covering the left one.
Leaf 43 cm. Good-fair condition. Folding marks and stains. Tears and open tears, professionally restored. Remnants of an ink stamp.
Literature: Shalom Dover Levine, MiBaeit HaGenazim, Brooklyn, 2010, pp.257-262.
In the picture, the Rebbe is portrayed in his home, on the background of his library, dressed in white Shabbath garments. A book on his knees with his eyeglasses on it. Below the portrait appears the inscription "Lezecher Olam Yihiye Tzadik! Picture of the Rabbi, the Tzadik, Gaon Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch of blessed memory" and the inscription "Portrait of the rabbi of Lubavitch, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson" (Russian).
the portrait was created after an oil painting painted in Tzemach Tzedek's old age. In issue 96 of the periodical "Di Yidishe Heym" (p. 15), it is described: "An unknown painter, non-Jewish, wished to paint the portrait of Tzemach Tzedek, however, knowing that he will not be able to do so in the regular manner – as the Tzemach Tzedekwill not agree – he had an idea: he came on a Saturday to Tzemach Tzedek, looked at him closely until he succeeded to memorize his holy face. In order to retain the moment in his memory, the painter hurried home, with his eyes almost closed, and as soon as he arrived he took his painting tools and started to draw what he saw – on canvas. Later, when Tzemach Tzedek saw the painting, he was sorry about it since it was painted on Shabbath (the Tzemach Tzedek is portrayed in his Shabbath garments), but found "comfort" since the painter made mistakes: (a) the gentile painter painted the overcoat of the Tzemach Tzedek folded from left to right – as done by non-Jews, since Jews do the opposite, with the right side covering the left one. (b). the Tzemach Tzedek is seen holding a book. While holy books are written and read from right to left, and this is the way they are opened – from right, the gentile painter drew the book like the books of gentiles – opened and read from left to right".
this painting was used as a source for numerous prints. this lithograph is the first print known to have been created after the painting. In later prints the plate of the print was reversed so as to portray the book as being opened from right to left and the right lapel covering the left one.
Leaf 43 cm. Good-fair condition. Folding marks and stains. Tears and open tears, professionally restored. Remnants of an ink stamp.
Literature: Shalom Dover Levine, MiBaeit HaGenazim, Brooklyn, 2010, pp.257-262.
Chabad Chassidism - Books and Objects, Manuscripts and Letters
Chabad Chassidism - Books and Objects, Manuscripts and Letters