"Ahavat Zion", Micrography by Shmuel Schulman, Addressed to Baron Rothschild and Hovevei Zion - Fundraising for the ...

"Ahavat Zion", Micrography by Shmuel Schulman, Addressed to Baron Rothschild and Hovevei Zion - Fundraising for the Settlement of Eretz Israel - Eretz Israel, Late 19th Century
"Ahavat Zion", micrography by Shmuel Schulman, addressed to Baron Edmond James de Rothschild and the Hovevei Zion movement. Lithograph, hand-colored. Eretz Israel, [late 19th century]. A symbolic depiction of the site of the Holy Temple appears in the center, surmounted by a flag bearing the verse "Let us sing praises for your salvation, and let us assemble in the name of our G-d", and below the verse "Raise a standard to Zion". On both sides of this image are willow trees with musical instruments hanging on their branches. A dedicatory inscription appears at the top of the leaf: "...dear Hovevei Zion and at their head the baron R. Avraham Binyamin son of Yaakov Rothschild". A caption at the bottom of the leaf (in Hebrew and French) describes what is seen in the micrography and the sources of the verses composing it; signed in the plate: "Made by me to commemorate the love of Zion, Shmuel Schulman". R' Shmuel Schulman (1843-1900), a pioneer in Eretz Israel colonies, a scribe and painter of micrographies. Born in Cimkavičy in Belarus, he immigrated to Eretz Israel and settled in Safed. He was among the activists who endeavored to establish colonies and a member of "Vaad Chalutzei Yesod HaMaalah", the association that established Rishon LeZion; he tried to settle Jewish farmers in the Çiftlik area, in the Jordan valley. He channeled his artistic talents to achieve his goal, and this micrography, among others, was printed to raise funds to establish colonies. Approx. 33.5X39.5 cm. Fair-poor condition. Mounted on cardboard. Several tears and open tears, affecting print. Many stains. Matted. Literature: Omanut VeUmanut Be'Eretz Israel BaMe'a HaTesha Esreh (Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 1979), pp. 141-145.