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Img. ID: 154486

© Center for Jewish Art, Photographer: Khaimovich, Boris, 2012

The vault of the main prayer hall of the Great Synagogue (Hoykhe Shul) in Botoşani contains some of the most interesting and earliest wall and ceiling paintings preserved anywhere in Romania. The ceiling holds a large canvas consisting of individual strips of fabric, each between 0.5 and 2 meters in width, that have been tightly fastened together. The surrounding vault decoration was likely accomplished after the canvas was already attached to the ceiling. The Torah ark must have been erected after the canvas was in place; its upper tier extends into the vault area and artistically merges with the plafond decoration. One may therefore presume that the date of the painted canvas on the ceiling must correspond to the date of the Torah ark with which it is interconnected. According to an accompanying inscription, the Torah ark was created in 1861. 

The paintings on the ceiling canvas comprise the central section of the vault plafond. This central space is surrounded by two lower tiers of wide decorative borders containing various additional paintings. A double-headed heraldic eagle bearing the triple Habsburg crown appears at the very center of the vault against a background of blue sky and gold stars. A wreath of red and white roses encircles the eagle. A large garland of roses also separates the central space (with eagle and sky) from a broad border ground with rocaille cartouches, medallions, and stylized monkeys.

The second and third tiers of the border regions of the vault were conceived as a decorative architectural cornice. They contain frames filled with images of animals, Zodiac signs, and urban landscapes.

The condition of the vault paintings is poor. The canvas fabric is torn in many places, and large fragments of the paintings have been damaged by humidity and mold. By contrast, the Torah ark and wall paintings already underwent restoration in 2010.

For the central motifs see:

///ID/2206/

For the Zodiac signs see:

///ID/2215/

For the animal motifs see:

///ID/2207/

For the urban landscapes see:

///ID/2214/

For the east section of the vault decoration see:

///ID/2209/

For the west section of the vault decoration see:

///ID/2213/

For the north section of the vault decoration see:

///ID/2210/

For the south section of the vault decoration see:

///ID/2211/

Name/Title
Great Synagogue (Hoykhe Shul) in Botoşani – Main prayer hall – Vault decoration | Unknown
Object
Object Detail
Settings
Unknown
Date
1883-1900?
Synagogue active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Unknown (Unknown)
Origin
Historical Origin
Unknown
Community type
Congregation
Unknown
Location
Romania | Moldavia | Botoşani
| 18 Muzicanti St.
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Unknown|
Period
Unknown
Period Detail
Collection
Unknown |
Documentation / Research project
Unknown
Material / Technique
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Subject
Unknown |
Condition
Extant
Documented by CJA
Surveyed by CJA
Present Usage
Present Usage Details
Condition of Building Fabric
Architectural Significance type
Historical significance: Event/Period
Historical significance: Collective Memory/Folklore
Historical significance: Person
Architectural Significance: Style
Architectural Significance: Artistic Decoration
Urban significance
Significance Rating
Textual Content
Unknown |
Languages of inscription
Unknown
Shape / Form
Unknown
0
Ornamentation
Custom
Contents
Codicology
Scribes
Script
Number of Lines
Ruling
Pricking
Quires
Catchwords
Hebrew Numeration
Blank Leaves
Direction/Location
Façade (main)
Endivances
Location of Torah Ark
Location of Apse
Location of Niche
Location of Reader's Desk
Location of Platform
Temp: Architecture Axis
Arrangement of Seats
Location of Women's Section
Direction Prayer
Direction Toward Jerusalem
Coin
Coin Series
Coin Ruler
Coin Year
Denomination
Signature
Colophon
Scribal Notes
Watermark
Hallmark
Group
Group
Group
Group
Group
Trade Mark
Binding
Decoration Program
Summary and Remarks
Remarks
Suggested Reconsdivuction
History/Provenance
Main Surveys & Excavations
Bibliography
Short Name
Full Name
Volume
Page
Type
Documenter
Khaimovich Boris |
Author of description
Khaimovich Boris |
Architectural Drawings
|
Computer Reconstruction
|
Section Head
|
Language Editor
Yeshayahu Gruber | 2016
Donor
|
Negative/Photo. No.
A301184.jpg