Yitzhak Rabin (archives)
Photo: Meir Fartush
Paintings from Leah and Yitzhak Rabin's home up for sale
Paintings by prominent artists Lea Nikel, Liliane Klapisch and Shmuel Beck delivered to Tirosh auction house. Publicist Rani Rahav: Couple had small but valuable collection
Three paintings that were displayed in Leah and Yitzhak Rabin's home will be auctioned off in June, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Wednesday.
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The paintings were recently delivered to the Tirosh auction house by a family member. The slain prime minister's son, Yuval, refused to comment, but his sister Dalia said he was apparently behind the decision to sell the paintings.
According to Tirosh owner Dov Hazan, bidding for the painting by Lea Nikel will begin at $6,000-$8,000, Liliane Klapisch's piece will be offered for $3,000-$5,000 and Shmuel Beck's smaller painting will be initially priced at $2,000-$3,000.
Publicist and art collector Rani Rahav, who was a close friend of Leah and Yitzhak Rabin, said the couple kept a small but valuable collection of some of the most exquisite Israeli artworks, including paintings by David Riv, Yehezkel Streichman and Moshe Gershoni.
"Leah was a big patron of Israeli art, and she was the first wife of a prime minister to support Israel's museums," Rahav told Yedioth Ahronoth.
The Tirosh auction house recently auctioned off furniture and Judaica from the estate of late Foreign Minister Abba Eban and his wife Suzy. Paintings belonging to late prime minister Golda Meir were sold in previous auctions.
