Isidor Kaufmann

Acquired by the grandfather of the present owner in the early 1930s

The following condition report was kindly provided by Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc.: This oil on panel is in lovely condition. The panel is unreinforced and unbroken. The paint layer is clean. A slightly brighter varnish would produce more depth and a more interesting frame would make the picture look considerably better. There appear to be no retouches and the paint layer is generally in excellent condition.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

In the present painting, Kaufmann endows the sitter with a sense of solemnity and great wisdom. The artist skillfully paints the details of the Rabbi's soft wrinkled skin and brown-red beard, its humble nature contrasted by the the luster of the intricate tallit draped over his shoulders. This luxuriously ornate garb was often made from a technique known as Shpanyer Arbeit (Spanish Work), in which silvered metal is wrapped around a thread, which is then sewn in decorative patterns—here, a foliate motif shining against the plainer cloth into which it is woven (Jay Weinstein, A Collector's Guide to Judaica, London, 1985, p. 164). The work is painted on one of the artist's typical wooden panels shipped from England, the perfect support for the finely applied pigments, building layers of colored glazes and sharp details made by a fine brush. A front view is the most often used in Kaufmann portraiture, with the viewer's perspective placed slightly below the figure's steady gaze, allowing for a careful study of the Rabbi's form, set against the shallow hazy green-black of the picture space.