BORIS SCHATZ (LITHUANIAN 1866-1932) Lighting Candles, Shabbat oil on panel 34 x 20 cm (13 3/8 x 7 7/8 in.) in a metal relief frame, framed dimensions: 48 x 31.5 cm (18 7/8 x 12 3/8 in.) signed upper right LOT NOTES The inscription on the frame of this painting in Hebrew reads, "Blessed are you, O our God, the source of the world, who sanctified us with his mitzvahs and commanded us to light a candle on Shabbat" Boris Schatz (1866-1932) was a Lithuanian-born Jewish artist, sculptor, and educator, renowned for founding the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem, which played a pivotal role in the development of Israeli art. Born on December 23, 1866, in Varniai, Lithuania, Schatz was raised in a religious family and initially sent to study at a yeshiva in Vilnius. However, his passion for art led him to enroll at the Vilnius School of Drawing in 1883. In 1887, he met the Jewish sculptor Mark Antokolsky, who encouraged his artistic pursuits. Schatz subsequently moved to Warsaw in 1888, where he taught art in Jewish schools and created his first sculpture, "Hendel," depicting a Jewish peddler. In 1889, Schatz relocated to Paris to further his studies in painting at the Académie Cormon and sculpture under Antokolsky. During this period, he gained recognition for his sculpture "Mattathias the Maccabee" (1894). In 1895, at the invitation of Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria, Schatz moved to Sofia to serve as the court sculptor and founded the Royal Academy of Art in Sofia. Schatz's encounter with Theodor Herzl in 1903 ignited his Zionist aspirations. At the 1905 Zionist Congress, he proposed establishing an art school in Palestine. This vision materialized in 1906 with the founding of the Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts in Jerusalem, named after the biblical artisan Bezalel. The school aimed to create a distinctive Jewish art style, blending European techniques with Middle Eastern motifs, and rapidly grew to over 500 students by 1910. Schatz's dedication to art and Zionism significantly influenced Israeli culture. He established a small museum within the Bezalel School, laying the foundation for what would become the Israel Museum. While on a fundraising tour in the United States, Schatz passed away on March 23, 1932, in Denver, Colorado. Keywords: Judaica painting, Jewish art, Shabbos, Israeli, Bezalel Academy N.B. Condition reports are available upon request. All lots are sold in as-is condition at the time of sale. Please note that any condition statement regarding works of art is given as a courtesy to our clients in order to assist them in assessing the condition. The report is a genuine opinion held by Shapiro Auctions and should not be treated as a statement of fact. The absence of a condition report or a photograph does not preclude the absence of defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of any others. Shapiro Auctions, LLC., including its consultants and agents, shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.