Raphael Nouril Gallery

Portrait commissions are undertaken. Please contact us for details.

Portrait of the Rebbe

Oil on Canvas
Signed
Image size: 37x29 inches

The position of the Rebbe's hands in this painting was chosen by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, himself. He placed his right hand over his left hand and requested that his hands should be in such a manner. He then blessed the artist. Raphael changed the position of the Rebbe's hands in the painting to comply with the Rebbe's wishes. The portrait of the Rebbe was even more original now due to his direct participation. Raphael then asked the Rebbe, “Rebbe, you speak about your hands. What about your face”? The Rebbe’s eyes scanned the painting and then he said, “It is better than the original.”

Click to Enlarge

Joyous Occasion

Oil on Canvas
Signed
Image size: 42x32 inches

This shows the Rebbe as a young man standing next to his father-in-law (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok), who was holding the Rebbe's hand on the occasion of the Rebbe's engagement to his daughter. The Rebbe's comments when he saw this painting were: "Spasiba" (thank-you in Russian). Thank-you very much for showing it to me. This is my picture you have painted." Raphael showed a very small faded black and white photograph to the Rebbe with a magnifying glass and said, "I have used this to paint this painting". The Rebbe, with happiness, repeated, "Thank-you very much for showing it to me The painting should be a good start to double up your efforts and spread Yiddishkeit (Judaism) with your works of art, together with your Misses." Raphael said he had never seen the Rebbe so happy.