Bidspirit auction | Portrait of the Rebbe, a

Portrait of the Rebbe, a numbered lithograph. Refael Nuriel, end of the 20th century - Lithograph printing of the Rebbe’s portrait as he leans on his stender in the prayer hall. Made by the artist Refael Nuriel, signed. Numbered 77/358. Including the frame, 86x71cm. Refael Nuriel (born 1940 in Tabriz, Azerbaijan) grew up in a traditional Sefardi house, but he was not a very practicing Jew. He became more religiously observant partially thanks to this work. A quote from an interview given by the artist to the journal ”Ki Karov” on the occasion of Gimmel Tammuz: ”The first time I showed the Rebbe a painting was when I was waiting for him near 770 when he got out of his car. His secretary opened the door, I quickly removed the wrapping paper over my drawing and showed it to him. The Rebbe took a look at the picture, and even before I could tell him my name and explain that I had come to ask for an opinion, he had already absorbed all the subtle nuances in the picture, ” says painter Rafael Nuriel, who now lives in London. ”First of all he spoke about the hands. I drew his hands as I saw them in the picture I based my work on, and there the fingers of both hands seemed to be crossed. But the Rebbe remarked to me: 'It is forbidden.' ” The Rebbe showed me what the hands should look like in the painting: The right hand rests on the left hand. And I asked: 'Rabbi, should I change my hands in painting?' The Rebbe answered in the affirmative. ”I thought to myself: the Rebbe is not only a tzaddik, but also knowledgeable in the painting profession. When the hands are clenched you see the veins and this evokes a feeling of tension. Since the Rebbe's face in the picture looked calm, the sight of the strained hands did not match. Show me, you will make the picture balance in complete harmony. ”At the end I told the Rebbe that I would do as he advised. I then asked him what he thought of painting his face, and he said with a smile: 'It is very good, better than the original, better than the original'. The Rebbe emphasized his words twice and I was very excited. I said excitedly 'THANK YOU, RABBI'. My enthusiasm increased, I kissed his hands and came back and said 'thank you very much' ... The Rebbe shook my hand and said at the end: ”Besorot tovot.”