"Mizrah" with the Inscription "Darom" – Painted on Glass by Yisachar Dov Halevi – Safed, 1882

"Mizrah" with the Inscription "Darom" – Painted on Glass by Yisachar Dov Halevi – Safed, 1882
"Darom". Painting on glass, indicating the direction of prayer. Safed, 1882.
In the center appears an ornamented circle, adorned with a crown and the word "Darom" [south] (indicating the direction of prayer towards Jerusalem), on a light blue background. On both sides appear two lions and the inscription "Vegibor Ka'ari" [brave as a lion] (Pirkei Avot, 5). Below the inscription "Darom" appears an illustration of the Mount of Olives depicting the graves in the Valley of Kidron (grave of Zecharia, Absalom and the Prophets) and an illustration of the Western Wall (inscribed in Hebrew: "Western Wall"), topped with Cypresses and a bush, on its right "Midrash Shlomo" and on its left Dome of the Rock [according to Yehossef Schwarz]. Below the drawing appears the Hebrew verse "Vehitpalelu elecha…" (Book of Kings A, 8:48). On the lower border, within a decorated frame, the artist signed his name: "Created by the artist Yisachar Dov Halevi, Safed, 1882" (Hebrew). Symmetrical decorations on both sides – branches in a coppery shade, two flower pots, with flowers, and two birds.
There are several known paintings painted by hand on glass, created in Eretz Israel in the late 19th century and in the first decades of the 20th century. Most of them were created by Moshe ben Yitzchak Mizrahi (Shah), or attributed to him over the years (for example: the drawing of the Binding of Isaac on glass, from the collection of Yitzchak Einhorn). One painting is attributed to the artist Yossef Geiger from Safed (scenes from the Esther scroll, painted on glass, Feuchtwanger Collection, no. 438; Israel Museum collection).
Now, that this unique piece is presented, with the signature of the artist, Yisachar Dov Halevi, it is possible to re-examine the attribution of the anonymous works to Mizrahi and Geiger. As to the identity of the artist who painted the "Binding of Isaac" on glass, there is a resemblance between the 'Binding of Isaac" and this "Darom": in the shades of blue and green, the floral motifs drawn in the frame, the depictions of the Western Wall and the Mount of Olives, and mainly the shapes of birds and flowers. The typography of that work is very similar to that appearing in the “Darom”. From every aspect it seems that the “Binding of Isaac” was created by Yisachar Dov Halevi and not by Moshe Mizrahi.
Shoshana Halevi and Aryeh Morgenstern mentioned a Hasid Habad of Safed by the name of R’ Shema’aya son of rabbi Yisachar Ber Halevi, and it is possible that Yisachar Dov Halevi, who signed this “Darom”, is the son of Rabbi Shema’aya who named his son after his father. In addition, the signature of Yisachar Dov Halevi (as witness) appears on an agreement to purchase a printing press in Safed in ca.1876.
Glass plate – approx. 40X40 cm. Back plate made of wooden boards – approx. 44X44 cm., frame – 50.5X51.5 cm. Unexamined out of frame. Fair condition. Break to glass at the upper left corner. Old dampstaining. Cracks and flaking to paint. Enclosed is a professional condition report.
Literature:
1. Omanut Ve-Umanut Be’Eretz Israel Ba-Mea Ha-Tesha Esreh [Arts and Crafts in Eretz Israel in the 19th century (Hebrew)], (The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 1979), pp.118-140, pictures no. 72, 96,105,115.
2. Jewish Tradition in Art, the Feuchtwanger Collection of Judaica. Dr. Yesha’ayahu Shachar (The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 1971), item 438.
3. Jerusalem – Spirit and Matter, Nitza Behruzi (Eretz Israel Museum, Tel-Aviv, 1993), p. 74.
4. “The Binding of Isaac in the works of Moshe Shah Mizrahi, one of the pioneers of folk art in Eretz Israel”, by Shalom Sabar. In: “Minha leMenahem: Jubilee Book in Honor of Rabbi Menahem haCohen” (Hakibbutz Hameuchad, 2007), pp. 465-487.