“Abraham, Isaac et Jakob.”

PANN, ABEL

Jerusalem, c. 1940

Pastel on paper. Signed by artist lower right; titled on verso. Framed.

Provenance: The Park Avenue Synagogue, New York City. An exquisite work that was part of Pann’s series on the Bible. For its equivalent “Four Matriarchs” see Mayanot Gallery Catalogue, Abel Pann (Jerusalem, 1987) unnumbered. Latvian born Abel Pann (1883-1963) studied in Paris for some years before moving in 1913 to Jerusalem where he taught at the Bezalel Academy. Pann’s art particularly focused upon Biblical themes, using pastel colors primarily. The innovation of his work was viewing the Bible realistically - portraying the people and landscapes as being specifically of its place, i.e., the Near East. Pann occupies a central place among the master-artist of early-Modern Eretz Israel. See The Israel Museum, Abel Pann Paints the Bible (2003).