A Jewish Wedding

A Jewish Wedding is a 1903 oil-on-canvas painting by Dutch artist Jozef Israëls. The painting is a depiction of an upper-class traditional Jewish wedding. The painting is thought to be a depiction of the artist's daughter's wedding.

A Jewish Wedding
Dutch: Joodse bruiloft
A Jewish Wedding
ArtistJozef Israëls
Year1903 (1903)
MediumOil-on-canvas
MovementRealism (arts)
SubjectReligious marriage
Dimensions137 cm (54 in) × 148 cm (58 in)
LocationRijksmuseum, Amsterdam
WebsiteJewish Wedding

History

Israëls created the painting titled, A Jewish Wedding in 1903.[1] The participants in the wedding scene are from the upper class or well-to-do.[2][3] In the 1850s Israëls was documenting the lives of poor people, notably fishermen and their families. It was not until late in his career that he began to paint Jewish subjects.[4] The painting was thought to be a depiction of his daughter Mathilda Anna Israëls' wedding to Cohen Tervaert, although the artist himself disputed this.[5][6]

The painting was exhibited, alongside Israëls' Field and Roads, at the London Guildhall.[7] In 1911 the painting was presented to the State Museum of Amsterdam as a gift from J.C.J. Drucker from London. He donated 19 paintings and all were the works of the artist Jozef Israëls.[8]

Description

The painting shows a groom who is dressed in formal attire wearing a top hat and a coat with talis.[1] The groom wears a hat according to Jewish tradition. He is looking down affectionately while putting a ring on the finger of the bride. The bride is watching the act.[2]

In the painting the bride and groom are both covered by a tallit (Jewish prayer shawl) and it is symbolic of a chuppah or wedding canopy.[3] The participants who look on in the wedding painting appear to be upper class as well.[1]

Reception

In the book Jozef Israëls author John Ernest Phythian states that the painting was hastily completed and he called it an "unusual summary". He went on to say, "The picture has unusually little value as a work of art."[2] An image of the painting appears on the cover of the 2020 book, The Many Ways Jews Loved by Constance Harris.[1]

References
  1. Harris, Constance (2020). The many ways Jews loved : a history from printed words and images. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. p. 25. ISBN 9781476678184. Archived from the original on 3 March 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  2. Phythian, John Ernest (1912). Jozef Israëls. England: G. Allen, Limited. pp. 92–93. Archived from the original on 3 March 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  3. Hoffman, Joseph R. (28 September 2008). "The Art of Israels". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  4. Carlebach, Elisheva (2019). The Posen Library of Jewish culture and civilization. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. p. 454. ISBN 9780300190007. Archived from the original on 3 March 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  5. Muller, Sheila D. (1997). Dutch art : an encyclopedia. New York: Garland Pub. p. 196. ISBN 9781135495749. Archived from the original on 3 March 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  6. Hes, Hindle S. (1980). Jewish physicians in the Netherlands, 1600-1940. Assen [Netherlands]: Van Gorcum. p. 30. ISBN 9789023217435. Archived from the original on 3 March 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  7. "Englishman Proves Love For His Country". Our Mountain Home. 21 June 1911. p. 8. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  8. The Reform Advocate. Chicago Illinois: Bloch & Newman. 17 June 1911. p. 794. Archived from the original on 3 March 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
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