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Princess and White Lillies
- Oil on Canvas
- Signed and dated, 1997
- Image size: 23x29 inches
Raphael was painting a still-life of white lilies in his studio in London when he heard the unfortunate news of Princess Diana’s death in Paris. To commemorate her, Raphael painted the Princess into his painting with the reflection of himself in the background mirror. White lilies were among the Princess’ favorite flowers.
Artist's Dream
- Oil on Canvas
- Signed and dated, 1997
- Image size: 35x50 inches
Raphael dreamt one night about a studio in Paris overlooking the River Seine where he is painting the river and the historical buildings alongside it. Looking up he sees Rembrandt approaching. Raphael invites him in, and he is astounded when Rembrandt comments on his work. He talks about Raphael’s style and marvels at the translucency of the painting. Keeping to the subject of painting, Raphael talks to Rembrandt about Rembrandt’s work. He points out that Rembrandt has done paintings of religious context. Having been to see Rembrandt's "The Feast of Belshazzar", Raphael compliments him on his work and his Hebrew handwriting. Raphael has a question that bothers him and uses this opportunity to ask Rembrandt. "Why, when painting Moses with the Tablet, did you only write five out of the Ten Commandments, without even putting in the First Commandment or at least the first letter of the First Commandment? Intrigued by his question, Rembrandt wanted to know the significance of the first letter. Raphael then explained that the first Commandment begins with the Hebrew letter Alef. Alef begins the phrase Anochi Hashem Elokecha. I am The Lord your G-d . Alef signifies One G-d. Alef is the ultimate truth, as the Hebrew word for truth, Emet, begins with Alef. If you take away the Alef you are left with the word Met, Hebrew for death. Rembrandt was impressed. Turning to Raphael he said, “Maybe this is why I came to see a Jewish artist.” With this sentence still in his mind, Raphael awoke from the dream. The dream was so vivid and so real, he wrote it down quickly so as not to forget. Raphael knew there must have been a reason why he dreamt this. The only thing to do now was to paint the scene as he so clearly remembered it.
Still Life Grapes
- Oil on Canvas
- Signed
- Image size: 16x20 inches
Hydranger Flowers
- Oil on Canvas
- Signed
- Image size: 23x28 inches
Summer Flowers
- Oil on Canvas
- Signed and dated, 1997
- Image size: 22x18 inches
Early Starters
- Oil on Canvas
- Signed
- Image size: 18x24 inches
Artist’s Breaktime
- Oil on Canvas
- Signed
- Image size: 18x24 inches
While Raphael was painting one afternoon, his wife took a break from cooking and asked him to keep an eye on her food in the oven. On her way out the door she called out, “Turn off the oven at five p.m.” Raphael knew that he had a slight tendency to become “immersed” in his work, sometimes making him forget and therefore he wrote this message on the envelope poised for his still-life. He decided to include the message on the envelope he was already painting, adding to the reality of “Artist’s Breaktime”.
Wall Street Melody
- Oil on Canvas
- Signed
- Image size: 24x18 inches
Raphael was painting while on a visit to New York and happened to be on Wall Street during rush hour and rain one afternoon. This place, the center of world commerce, had an artistic flair through the mad rush for money and frenetic energy in every direction. Raphael saw a man playing the violin in the rain and one woman running under an umbrella. He asked himself, “Why can’t I paint this scene in slow motion?” He captured an artistic, slow dimension to contrast the frenetic energy. Raphael painted himself in the painting (notice his back) symbolically going against the traffic towards the soothing violin player.
After a Long Walk
- Oil on Canvas
- Signed
- Image size: 24x18 inches