Page 365 - The Legacy of Abraham Rothstein - text

Portraits: historical

labeled as the great Zionist. If not Herzl, then some other
nineteenth- century prominent Jewish leader may be portrayed
here.

98 Bust of a man
Wood
7” x 4.25”

AR carved a classical-style bust on a pedestal from a single
piece of wood; the figure’s judicial robes may have inspired
that format. The man has no beard, so he may well represent
Justice Louis D. Brandeis, a prominent Jewish leader during
AR’s involvement with Zionism.

89 The Western Wall
Stone
10.5” x 15”
Inscription: These are sacred stones (Hebrew, on wall,
occupying empty space to left of figures)

11 The Western Wall *
Wood
9.5” x 9.5”

AR never saw this famous site in Jerusalem (formerly known as
the Wailing Wall, before its authenticity as a remnant of the
Temple of Solomon was established), but its political and
emotional significance had to be great to a committed Zionist.
The scale and refinement of the piece differ greatly from those
of the same subject in stone, leading to the supposition that
AR first wanted to represent the scene in stone (inevitably
suggested by the monumental blocks forming the backdrop
and focus of the scene), but found the medium intractable and
returned to his theme later in wood. Thus the crudely-incised
stone relief may be considered a precursor of the more
successful realization in wood.

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