Presumed miniature oval portrait of R. Samson Wertheimer. Unknown artist (unsigned). [Presumably Central Europe, late 19th century?]. Watercolor on celluloid(?).

Miniature portrait, created in keeping with the finest tradition of European portrait art. Portraits of this type were typically painted on wood, bone, or thin parchment, cut into an oval shape. This type of art was also prevalent among Jews, and a number of Jewish artists are known to have produced miniature portraits – often with rabbis as subjects – in Europe and England, from the 17th through the 19th centuries (see: Franz Landsberger, Einführung in die jüdische Kunst, Berlin, 1935, pp. 39-40).

On verso of frame is pasted a note from Kalgsbald's personal catalogue, identifying the  depicted figure as R. Samson Wertheimer.

The Court Jew,
R. Samson Wertheimer (1658-1724), Rabbi of Vienna and Chief Rabbi of the Hungarian countries. Also served as a Rabbi of Prague and Worms. Frequently interceded on behalf of his fellow Jews, taking advantage of his close relations with the Austro-Hungarian monarchy and its government ministers. In his day, he was regarded as both the spiritual and political leader of Central European Jewry. He was fondly dubbed with the title "Judenkaiser" (Jewish emperor). Various tales and stories about him became the stuff of legend, relating to his great wealth and charity. He also maintained close relations with the Jews of Turkey and Eretz Israel, and was appointed as "Prince of the Land of Israel".