Two large portraits. Oil on canvas. Signed: "B. Mordchin", dated 1915 and 1916.
Presumably, these portraits portray Rabbi Nathan Ehrenfeld (1843–1912), chief Rabbi of Prague for over 20 years, and his wife, Ida (1852–1926) [the portrait of Rabbi Ehrenfeld is dated 1916 – some four years after his passing, and was presumably made after a photograph]
There exist in the Jewish Museum in Prague several portraits bearing identical signatures to those in the present lot – "B. Mordchin" – dated 1914–1919. Possibly, the artist is Boris Mordchin, a native of Russia (1865), who was also active in New York, who signed his works "B. Mordkhin" (a signature almost identical to the signatures in the present lot, except for the slightly different spelling).
Two portraits. Oil on stretched canvas (without frame). 96.5X86. Fine Condition. Blemishes, abrasions and tears.
Provenance: Archive of Rabbi Dr. Heinrich Brody, son–in–law of Rabbi Ehrenfeld, and successor as chief Rabbi of Prague.
See:
• The Jewish Museum in Prague, item no. 082332, and additional portraits by the same artist.
• William J. Jenack Auctioneers, New York, January 2018, item no. 292.
Provenance: Private collection.