Portrait of Rabbi Jacob Judah Leon “Templo.” Engraving by Conrad Buno, from the book “De Templo Hierosolymitano” by Jacob Judah Aryeh Leon Templo. [Helmstadt, Germany, 1665].
This portrait of Rabbi Jacob Judah Leon is encircled with the Latin inscription: “Effigies uiri doctissimi et clarissimi Jacobi Yehudæ Leonis Hebræi autoris Structuræ templi Salomonici facti anno 1641.” In the bottom margin are two illustrations of the Great Temple of Jerusalem.
This engraving is based on a portrait of Rabbi Leon “Templo” created by Salom Italia roughly twenty years earlier, in the 1740s.

R. Jacob Judah Leon Templo (1603 – after 1675), a 17th century Torah scholar in Amsterdam. Born in Portugal to a family of Spanish exiles, he studied in Amsterdam under the rabbi of the Neveh Shalom community, R. Yitzchak Uziel. He was renowned for his books on the prominent Biblical structures and utensils – the Tabernacle, Solomon's temple, and the Ark of the Covenant, which R. Leon described for the first time based on contemporary scientific knowledge. His pioneering work earned him renown throughout Europe, and drew the attention of contemporary rulers – King Charles II, William II Prince of Orange, and Augustus Duke of Brunswick (who commissioned German translations of the works). Following the success of his books, R. Judah Leon created a model of Solomon's temple with small scale utensils, earning the nickname of "Templo".

Approx. 18X12.5 cm. Overall good condition. Minor tears, mended. Margins slightly cropped. Minor abrasions to paper.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, No. 117.011.016.

Portrait of R. Yehuda Aryeh Leib son of R. David (of Kalisch). Engraving, possibly by Jacob Folkema. [Amsterdam, ca. 1710].
Hebrew inscription surrounding the portrait: "Portrait of the prominent… R. Aryeh Yehuda Leib son of R. David, rabbi and dean of the Ashkenazi community in Amsterdam… passed away on 7th Kislev 1709". Beneath his portrait, a lion is depicted within a shield topped with a crown, captioned "Aryeh DeBei Ila'i". Rhyming text in his memory flanks the shield.

R. Yehuda Aryeh Leib son of R. David (d. 1709) served for 22 years as rabbi and dean in Lobsens (Łobżenica, Poland). He later moved to Kremsier (Kroměříž; present day: Czech Republic) and Kalisch, and became known as R. Leib Kalisch. He was appointed rabbi of the Ashkenazi community in Amsterdam in 1708.
Artist's signature in lower margin, to the right, and additional signature in Hebrew on the left (in the plate).
If the assumption regarding the identity of the engraver who produced the present portrait is correct, this would be one of his early works.

Approx. 35X24 cm. Overall good condition. Stains. Tears, professionally restored.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, 112.011.042.
Rare.

Portrait of R. Shlomo Shalem. Engraving by Boyly, after Benjamin Bolomey Samuel. [The Netherlands, 1762]. Hand–colored copy.
Portrait of R. Shlomo Shalem, holding his book Shoneh Halachot. The following inscription surrounds the portrait: "Clariss: & Venerand D: D: Selomoh Salem Adrianopolitanus / Rabin: Sinagog: Hebraco: Lusitan: Amstelodam: Creat: Ao: 5522 actate sua 44 amor". Hebrew caption under the portrait: "Likeness of the sage, the excellent dayan R. Shlomo Shalem, rabbi and posek in the Talmud Torah community of Amsterdam and leader of the Belgrade community", followed by a poem in his praise.

R. Shlomo Shalem (1708–1781), was born in Adrianople (Turkey) and raised in Salonika. He served as rabbi of various Bulgarian cities – Berkovitsa, Vidin and later the capital city, Sofia. For medical reasons he travelled westwards, and on his way to Vienna passed through Belgrade. The Belgrade Jewish community begged him to stay and serve as their rabbi, and he agreed, stipulating that he first continue his journey to seek medical attention. He spent a while in Vienna and then returned to Belgrade.
In 1760, R. Shalem traveled to Amsterdam to print his book. At that time, the position of rabbi of the Amsterdam Portuguese community was vacant, and the community leaders sought an appropriate candidate, offering the position to the Chida and to R. Chaim Abulafia. Upon the arrival of R. Shalem, they decided to appoint him to the position. In 1761, R. Shalem printed his book Shoneh Halachot in Amsterdam, and was concurrently appointed rabbi of the Amsterdam Portuguese community. Nevertheless, he continued to mention Belgrade in his signature (it similarly appears in the caption on this engraving). He served as rabbi in Amsterdam for 20 years, until his passing.

Approx. 36X25.5 cm. Fair–good condition. Slightly browned paper. Minor marginal tears, mostly repaired. Minor stain to upper margin and several other minor stains.

See:

• Rubens, A Jewish Iconography (London, 1981), no. 2195.
Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, 112.011.014.

Portrait of R. Yaakov Moshe son of R. Shaul Löwenstam. Engraving by an unknown artist, [Amsterdam, 1815].
Portrait of R. Löwenstam, set on a large gravestone, with a willow tree in the background. Two mourning figures, a felled tree and a putto bearing a funeral wreath are depicted around the gravestone. Hebrew caption on the gravestone: "Portrait of… R. Yaakov Moshe son of R. Shaul, rabbi and dean of the Ashkenazi community in Amsterdam…", followed by a rhyming poem in his memory.
R. Yaakov Moshe Löwenstam (1744–1815), rabbi of Amsterdam from 1793, in place of his father R. Shaul Rabbi of Amsterdam (1717–1790).

29X21 cm. Overall good condition. Minor stains. Minor tears. Tear, professionally restored. Tape repairs to upper margin, on verso.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, 112.011.015.

Portrait of R. Solomon Hirschell. Engraving by Ridley, after Drummond. London, 1811.
English caption beneath the portrait: "Rev. Solomon Hirschel, Chief Rabbi of the German Jews in London".
For more information, see previous item.

23X14 cm. Good condition. Minor tears. Minor creases and some stains. Small pieces of paper pasted on verso.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, 112.011.003.