Enfilade

Writing for The Art Tribune (14 December 2010), Didier Rykner happily notes that the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire du Judaisme in Paris recently acquired The Jewish Funderal, “a superb painting” by Alessandro Magnasco (1667-1749). The downside is that

Alessandro Magnasco, "Homage to Pluto" (Photo: Galerie Canesso

Alessandro Magnasco, "The Jewish Funeral" (Paris, Musée d’Art et d’Histoire du Judaïsme) Photo: Galerie Canesso

this canvas which had been reunited with its companion piece, Homage to Pluto, by the previous owner will once again find itself separated. Understandably, the museum was only interested in the first which was declared ‘a work of major importance to heritage’ by the Commission des tresors nationaux. It was the only one which could thus benefit from a contribution by a patron (who has for the time being remained anonymous), making it possible for it to join the museum collections.

The pairing of the two subjects, one representing a pagan ceremony, the other a Jewish rite, corresponds to the artist’s (and perhaps the person commissioning) wish to illustrate two non-Catholic religious events although their association may seem a bit strange. Despite the fact that this seems to be the only known scene of a Jewish funeral by Magnasco, the painter also represented synagogue interiors on various occasions such as, for example, in a painting held in Cleveland.

The full article is available here»