Shmuel Levi (; 14 March 1884 – July 1966) was an Israeli painter.

Biography

Shmuel Levi (Ophel) was born in Sofia, Bulgaria. The name Opal was added by him as a pen name, yet at some point Levi abandoned it. His artwork stressed the Orientalist style especially seen by the

Yemenite Jews Yemenite Jews, also known as Yemeni Jews or Teimanim (from ; ), are a Jewish diaspora group who live, or once lived, in Yemen, and their descendants maintaining their customs. After several waves of antisemitism, persecution, the vast majority ...

. His parents were Abraham and Naomi Levi. After completing his studies in gymnasia, he began his studies at the

National Academy of Arts The National Academy of Arts () is an institution of higher education in Sofia, Bulgaria. It is the oldest and most renowned school of arts in the country. History The National Academy of Arts was founded in 1896 by noted artists and public f ...

, Sofia. With the establishment of the

Bezalel Academy Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design () is a public college of design and art located in Jerusalem. Established in 1906 by Jewish painter and sculptor Boris Schatz, Bezalel is Israel's oldest institution of higher education and is considered the ...

in 1906, Levi immigrated to the Land of Israel at the invitation of

Boris Schatz Boris Schatz (; Russian language, Russian: Борис Шац; 23 December 1866 – 23 March 1932) was a Lithuanian Jews, Lithuanian Jewish artist and sculptor who settled in Palestine. Schatz was the founder of the Bezalel school and would be late ...

. While at the academy, Levi organized the first choir at Bezalel. Migdal david agudar omanim april 1924

Levi spoke of the praise he was given as well as the financial reward which resulted from his exhibition in Czarist Russia. This success allowed him to study in the

Académie Julian The () was a private art school for painting and sculpture founded in Paris, France, in 1867 by French painter and teacher Rodolphe Julian (1839–1907). The school was active from 1868 through 1968. It remained famous for the number and qual ...

, Paris in 1913. While in Paris he participated in the French "Orientalist" exhibition. Upon his return to the Land of Israel, at the start of the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, Levi was active in the local art scene. In 1920, Levi was among the founders of the Jewish Artist Association and chaired their first committee. In 1921, Levi was the founder and in charge of the Zionist Tourist Association of Sofia. On 18 April 1927, he opened an exhibition of his works in the house of

Yosef Eliyahu Chelouche Yosef Eliyahu Shalosh (, ; 1870 – 23 July 1934) was one of the founders of Tel Aviv, an entrepreneur, businessman, and industrialist. Early life Yosef Eliyahu Chelouche was born in Jaffa, Ottoman Syria. His father, Aharon Chelouche, one of ...

in Tel Aviv. In 1931, he exhibited in the Galerie Sélection in France. Levi was among the founders of the Beit Haam (see Hebrew article מרכז ז'ראר בכר) in Jerusalem and decorated the building with painted walls and ceilings. In 1960, there was a retrospective exhibition of his works at the Tel Aviv Museum and at the Jerusalem Artists House. His artwork is found among the collections of many museums including the

Musée du Luxembourg The () is a museum at 19 in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. Established in 1750, it was initially an art museum located in the east wing of the Luxembourg Palace (the matching west wing housed the Marie de' Medici cycle by Peter Paul Rubens) an ...

, Paris.

Education

* 1901–1905

, Sofia * 1906

* 1913

, Paris

Teaching

* Hebrew Teachers' College *

Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium The Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium (, also known as ''Gymnasia Herzliya''), originally known as HaGymnasia HaIvrit (lit. Hebrew High School) is a historic high school in Tel Aviv, Israel, whose faculty and alumni includes many people influential in t ...

, Jerusalem * Lemmel Elementary School, Jerusalem

Exhibitions

* 1912 exhibition in Czarist Russia * 1914 "Orientalist" Association exhibition in ParisShmuel Levi, Retrospective Exhibition, Tel Aviv Museum, 1960 * 1921 Participated in the first annual international exhibition of the Jewish Artist Association at the

Tower of David The Tower of David (), also known as the Citadel (), is an ancient citadel and contemporary museum, located near the Jaffa Gate entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem, Old City of Jerusalem. The citadel that stands today dates to the Mamluk Sult ...

* 1927 exhibition at the house of Yosef Eliyahu Chelouche, Tel Aviv * 1931 exhibited in the Galerie Sélection in France * 1960 retrospective exhibition, the Tel Aviv Museum and at the Jerusalem Artists House

References

External links