Page 35 - Studio International - August 1965

played its part in Israel's artistic activity much of the poor design and craftsmanship in the
All these factors make up the background to the tourist gift shops But his school remains the leading
creation of the new National Museum in Jerusalem. art academy in the country and the collection of Jewish
These remarkable buildings are neither an isolated effort. religious art has now become the finest in the world. His
nor of a sudden, spontaneous phenomenon. The need successor Mordecai Narkiss expanded the collection to
for national culture, art education and the civilising international dimensions, from African art to Renais­
role of the creative artist were all part of early Zionist sance drawings, thus laying the foundations of the
philosophy. The new museum, indeed, is the direct present Museum.
descendant of the Bezalel Museum founded, with the Since those pioneering days many other museums
famous art school of the same name, in 1906. Professor have arisen in the country, notably in Tel Aviv where
Boris Schatz (1866-1932) a sculptor and art historian there are a number of well-endowed public collections,
of Russian origin, who lived in Paris and other European ranging from modern Israeli art to the pavilions of the
cities, named both institutions after Bezalel ben Uri ben charming Ha'aretz Museum devoted to glass, coins,
Hur, the legendary Biblical creator of the Ark of the costumes, etc., and the Jaffa Museum of local history.
Covenant. This romantic gesture was part of Schatz's Haifa, Acre, Beersheba, and even new towns such as
aim at founding a national art form, expressive of Eilath, all have growing collections. One of the finest
Biblical and Jewish themes, with a dash of oriental museums of modern art in the country was started
Panoramic v,ew of the Israel motifs for local colour. It cannot be said that he 30 years ago on the collective settlement Ein Harod;
National Museum
succeeded, or contributed to modern Israeli art­ and at Kibbutz Hazorea, near Haifa, the Wilfred Israel
Below
The Shrine of the Book although an unfortunate residual effect can be seen in House contains a surprising collection of Far Eastern art.

With the creation of the Israel National Museum in
Jerusalem, Israel can be said to have come of age
culturally. It is part of a new Kirya, or official city, which
includes the Hebrew University, the new Parliament, a
group of Ministries and the President's official residence.
This ambitious scheme is designed to give the some­
what dull, unprepossessing capital a new dignity,
worthy of its importance as the centre of government
and learning, and, also, a centre of tourist attraction.
The site, indeed, is magnificent. The Museum grace­
fully rests on a 22 acre hill with the charming Biblical
name Nave Shaanan-'Tranquil Habitation', overlook­
ing an 11 th century Crusader Monastery in the Valley of
the Cross. The architects of the main buildings, Professor
Alfred Mansfield and Mrs. Dora Gad, have clearly been
inspired by the traditional architecture of the region, at
its best in the Arab villages. The squat, cubist pavilions
seem to grow out of the hillside, rhythmically blending
with the angle of its slope; not, as with the new tall,
monolithic apartment blocks, at variance with the
natural contours of the land.
Mansfield and Gad were prize-winners in a national
competition held in 1959, chosen by an international
jury. Professor Mansfield, born in St. Petersburg and
trained in Berlin and Paris, is Head of the Department
65