Bidspirit auction | The Discovery Electrifying the Jewish

The Discovery Electrifying the Jewish World: a photograph of the long-lost portrait of the Ba'al HaTanya, author of Shulchan Aruch Harav . The Discovery! The original likeness of the Alter Rebbe, founder of the Chabad - Lubavitch dynasty, Harav Schneur Zalman of Liadi, author of Tanya  and Shulchan Aruch Harav . The likeness of the Alter Rebbe, Harav Schneur Zalman, author of Tanya and Shulchan Aruch Harav,   is one of the most iconic and widely recognized images in the Jewish world. According to Chabad tradition and many other sources, this is indeed the authentic likeness of the Ba'al HaTanya that was painted during his first incarceration in 1798 and later published in 1888/9. There are dissenting opinions, with some claiming that no portrait was ever painted during his imprisonment, and that the image is either fictional or based on of one of his descendants, painted in 1888/9 by Boris Schatz or his first wife. While the words of the Rebbes and tzaddikim  of Chabad require no corroboration, there is now conclusive evidence supporting their position: A portrait of the Alter Rebbe was indeed painted during his incarceration, and Boris Schatz, or whoever painted the well-known portrait, clearly based it on the original painting made at the end of the 18th century. This is an early photograph of an antique painting from the late 18th century , depicting an image that is immediately recognizable to all as the Ba'al HaTanya. Upon close examination, several small differences are discernable, but as Yehudah Fried of Haifa (not a chassid of Chabad) wrote: ”In 1938, I was a lumber merchant and I visited Yitzchak Eizik Esterin, a Chabad chassid and fellow lumber merchant. On his desk were several photographs of Zionist leaders. I asked him why he didn't have a photograph of the Ba'al HaTanya and he replied, 'If there were a small-sized version I would certainly keep it here. But there is only a large one, and I won't hang any pictures on my wall.' As for seeing it, I saw the original painting at Count Tyszkiewicz's estate. It was an old portrait hand-painted by a skilled artist - not a photograph or a print - and it matched the lithograph image but was clearer and more awe-inspiring.”  On the back of the image is a Hebrew inscription: Baal Hatanya Veshulchan Aruch.” Below, in Russian: Z. Boruchovich. In the middle, in Russian: Nachum Shmuel Ginzburg [?]. The Baal HaTanya was referred to as Harav Schneur Zalman Boruchovich after his father, Harav Boruch. Likewise, his son, the Mittler Rebbe, was referred to as ”Schneuri” after his father. It was only in the third generation, with the Tzemach Tzedek, that the surname Schneerson became standard. This photograph has been examined by leading art experts, who unanimously confirmed that it is consistent with the late 18th century, and by Israel's leading photography specialist, who verified that this is indeed an early photograph of an original painting. The image is sharp and clear, not processed or retouched like the familiar lithographic versions. The resemblance between this painting and the 1888/9 printed portrait leaves no doubt that the artist who produced the latter had the original before him. The two are remarkably similar, but this one is noticeably sharper and clearer, and there are also subtle differences. One of the details confirming authenticity of this painting is the well-known fact that the Baal HaTanya underwent a medical procedure on his nose that left a scar on the upper part of his nose. In this painting, the scar is clearly visible, unlike in the prints and images that appeared after 1889. When the image was published in Kovetz HaTamim in 1937, it was written that under the original painting was an inscription in Russian: Zalman Boruchovich. In our image as well, the back of the picture bears the inscription in Russian: Z Boruchovich. The photograph is complete!!! In the catalog images, a portion of the image has been overlaid with the logo of our auction house so that the buyer, should he so choose, will be able to publish the complete image as a first-time release. For this reason, no additional images will be provided. You may visit in person or send a representative to view the photograph at the auction house or at any other approved location. Appointments must be scheduled in advance by calling 0527-602-610 or via WhatsApp. photography of the image during viewing is not permitted. Here is the story of how this portrait came to light: In 1888, a portrait measuring 32 cm was printed in Warsaw by Jewish artist Boris Schatz and Harav Shemaryahu Schneerson. It was published with the claim that this was a portrait of the Ba'al HaTanya, copied from an old painting by artist Boris Schatz. Where had this old painting been found? After all, more than 70 years had passed since the passing of the Ba'al HaTanya. Boris Schatz recounted that he had once seen, in a Polish count's art collection,