“Geonei U–G’dolei Yisrael” / “Berühmte Männer Israels (g'one Jisrael) u. z. des X–XIX Jahrhunderts.” Print bearing portraits of 88 of the greatest rabbis and Jewish spiritual leaders from the 10th through 19th centuries.
Compiled by “the collector and arranger, the holy Yisrael Wiesen … and scribe, here, the holy community of Kettwig, may the Lord protect it.” Kettwig, Essen, Germany, Year of “and give honor to the Torah” [in Hebrew, the numerological equivalent of Hebrew year 5641 = 1881 CE].
A photomontage composed of cut–and–pasted portraits of 88 great rabbis, each accompanied by a brief explanatory text inserted into a circle, all arranged in seven rows. It features the greatest and most prominent rabbinical scholars from as far back as the tenth century – including such figures as Rabbi Isaac Alfasi (the “Rif”), Maimonides, Don Isaac Abarbanel, and others – but including, as well, dozens of notable rabbis from the more recent past, from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Print: 35X24 cm; mounted onto sheet, 32.5X39.5 cm. Print in good condition, except for tear next to portrait of Rabbi Jonathan Eybeschutz. Sheet in fair condition (brittle paper, with browning), with several tears and stains.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, No. 112.011.069.