Two Rare 19th-Century Engravings of the Livorno Jewish Community

This highly detailed hand-colored engraving depicts the interior of the Livorno synagogue in the mid-nineteenth century, a time when the building had achieved its most magnificent state. First constructed in 1603, the building was expanded and improved upon numerous times until 1789, at which point it was considered to be one of the grandest synagogues in Europe. It was during the renovations of 1787-89 that the upper women’s gallery was added and the names of donors inscribed on the walls, as depicted here. The building was severely damaged during World War II and was replaced by the current modern structure. 

Cemetery of the Jewish Community of Livorno, Livorno, 1825; Designed by Gustavo Mellini and engraved by Antonio Verico. Hand-colored engraving on paper, (16 ¼   x 20 ¾   in.; 410 x 530 mm).  backed onto board and matted.

This rare engraving presents a bird’s-eye view of one of the three Jewish cemeteries in the city of Livorno. The first, dating from 1648, was situated near Via Pompilia and a second cemetery was opened in 1738 at Via Corallo, depicted here. Both these cemeteries were expropriated by the Fascists in 1939 and the gravestones moved to a third cemetery which had been established by the Jewish community on Viale Ippolito Nievo in 1837.