**a pioneer in canadian art** israel rafalsky, known professionally as william raphael, was a prussian-born canadian painter of portraits, still lifes, genre scenes, and landscapes. he is best recognized for his vibrant depictions of montreal's harbour and market life. **early life and training** born in nakel, west prussia, on august 22, 1833, israel rafalsky received a rigid academic training at the berlin school of fine art under johann eduard wolff and karl begas. this foundational education would later influence his diverse artistic expressions. **establishing himself in canada** in 1856…