Portrait of R. Avraham Vita de Cologna; lithograph (with printed signature: "Lith. de Gerard"). [Brussels?, 19th century].
Portrait of R. Avraham Vita de Cologna sitting by his table, holding a book and quill. Beneath the portrait is a caption in French listing his various titles.
R. Avraham Chai (Vita) de Cologna (1755-1832), born in Mantua, was a disciple of R. Yisrael Gedalia Cases. In 1806, he was invited to join the "Assembly of Notables" convened by Napoleon, and was later appointed vice-president of the Grand Sanhedrin, and a rabbi of the Central Consistory of French Jewry. R. Mordechai Shmuel Ghirondi describes him in his book Toldot Gedolei Yisrael UGeonei Italia (p. 45): "He was well-versed in various wisdoms, and he was invited to the Sanhedrin gathering in Paris in 1806, and caused a sanctification of G-d's Name through his exalted sermons and essays printed at that occasion, and he became the head and leader of French rabbis…". From 1827, he served as rabbi of Trieste. R. M.Sh. Ghirondi writes (ibid) that "he was accorded great honor with his passing, and he was eulogized throughout France and Italy".
[1] leaf. 20.5X31 cm, mounted on thick paper. Good condition. Stains and damage. Marginal tears.