The man who painted early Israel

One of Mrs Rubin’s hopes is that a London display will shed light on a 90-year-old mystery — the whereabouts of three of Rubin’s oil paintings. “They were last known to be in England and we have no clue where they are,” said Mrs Rubin. “Now maybe people will start looking.”

In fact, the locations of around 200 of his paintings remain unknown. Rubin, who went to Ottoman Palestine to study art at Jerusalem’s Bezalel Academy in 1912, was an established figure of the post-First World War art scene, with exhibitions in London, Paris and Frankfurt. Such was his reputation that his first New York show was organised by influential photographer Alfred Stieglitz.

He settled in Mandate Palestine in 1922, even serving as Israel’s ambassador to Romania after independence. He became the first artist to stage solo shows in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and designed scenery for the Habima Theatre.

‘There are some significant paintings,” said Mrs Rubin. She is currently working on a book telling the stories behind the pictures. “His story really is Israel’s, he came here, he witnessed the establishment of the state.”

Mrs Rubin is delighted to introduce a new generation to her father-in-law’s work. “He was a pioneer, not only documenting life in Palestine but also in showing his art to the Jewish diaspora. This is what he wanted, to share his narrative.”

The show is at Christie’s from March 10-14