Featured Rabbi Ben Ezra painting with a Robert Browning poem

Hi all,
I found this today and just thought it was kind of interesting.
The frame is made of different pieces of wood. measures 8 1/2" x 12" x 1 1/2" deep
The label and poem are painted to look like torn worn paper. It is all painted or drawn on. Then there are the artist initials, I think. Any thoughts and critique welcome.

Mikey

 

Is the backing wallpaper?

Debora

 

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43775/rabbi-ben-ezra

 

I think it is. Too thick for wrapping paper.

Mikey

 

It's a long long poem isn't it.

 

Think that's more of a monogram than a signature.

Debora

 

Yes a monogram. It looks like H F with a clover underneath.
Mikey

 

I see HCF, although C may be the initial of the last name. Four-leafed clover, or quatrefoil.

 

I see HFC with a quatrefoil.

Debora

 

A line in a doctoral dissertation on the Jewish chaplaincy in the British armed forces led me to this cap badge:



although AI assures me the quatrefoil is more of a Christian symbol.

 

Another example.

Debora

 

Could it be an illustration from a published edition of the poem? Neither of the artists for this one have names that match your initials, but, if the cover gives an idea, the artwork has a similar feel to this:

https://www.abebooks.com/Rabbi-Ben-Ezra-Browning-Robert-Foulis/31574820636/bd



Some more of it visible here:

https://www.jonkers.co.uk/rare-book/11864/rabbi-ben-ezra/jessie-m-king

 

That's an idea. Would make sense.

Debora

 

I don't know if there was an illustration, but there is no doubt the artist based this piece on the poem.
But this is not a print. It is hand painted on the wood. So unknown artist ooak.

Mikey

 

This one is Rabbi ben Ezra I. Wonder if there is a II., etc.

 

Doesn't appear to be. Perhaps the artist illustrated other passages from the poem (e.g II) although this is by far the poem's most well-known line and one of Browning's as well.

Debora

 

What I aspired to be,
And was not, comforts me:

 

Any suggestions on the age?
Should I remove the paper on the back, or leave as is?
Mikey

 

Hard paper to date. Given scale and colorway, in my opinion, likely post-World War II. If I had to guess, I'd think this was a homemade, sentimental gift created by an older man with limited means who had artistic and woodworking training but who hadn't worked professionally in either field.

Debora

 

Maybe that's why Google AI describes it as
"Judaic naive folk art "
Thank you @Debora and everyone else!

Mikey