Ketubah for the marriage of Zerah Avi'ad Sar-Shalom son of Aminadav Fano) and Benvenuta (daughter of Yehudah Raphael Chazak). Mantua, 1821.
Profusion of images in borders, including angels and flowers. In center of upper section two woman warriors flanking "BeSimna Tava…" and a scene of Jerusalem.. The side margins contain six allegorical representations and a description of the Queen of Sheba visiting King Solomon below the text.
Prof. Shalom Sabar notes that the decorative program of the Ketubah is not typical of the Mantuan school but of Rome. A Ketubah with nearly identical illustrations from Rome, 1711, is known. The narrow borders implies that the decorations were not planned in the beginning, on the other hand, the colors and the style are clearly not of a recent period. The Ketubah owner imitated the Roman 1771 illustrations during the 19th century.
61X42.5 cm, in frame 72X54 cm. Good condition. Damage to outside edges.
See Sotheby's Catalog from September 2001.
Attached is a letter by Prof. Shalom Sabar of analysis and evaluation of this Ketubah.