Estella Solomons
Encyclopedia
Estella Francis Solomons (1882–1968) was one of the leading Irish
artists of her generation.
, the daughter of Maurice Solomons (1832–1922), an optician whose practice in 19 Nassau St., Dublin, is mentioned in Ulysses
. Her family, the Solomons, who came to Dublin from England in 1824, are one of the oldest continuous lines of Jews in Ireland
. Her grandmother Rosa Jacobs Solomons (1833–1926) was born in Hull in England. Her brother Bethel Solomons
, a renowned physician, master of the Rotunda Hospital
and Irish international rugby player, is mentioned in Finnegans Wake
. Her brother Edwin (1879–1964) was a stockbroker and prominent member of the Dublin Jewish community. Her younger sister Sophie was a trained opera singer.
In 1898, at the age of 16, she entered the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art. She went on to study in London and Paris, and upon her return to Ireland spent some time painting in County Kerry
. She studied under two of Ireland's leading artists, Walter Osborne
and William Orpen
, and was an early member of the Irish impressionist school. She exhibited in the Leinster Hall, Molesworth St., with contemporaries such as Beatrice Elvery
, Eva Hamilton and Grace Gifford
.
She joined Cumann na mBan
about 1918 and was active in politics before and during the Irish war of independence
. She took the republican side in the civil war and her studio was used as a safe house by republican volunteers. She married poet and publisher Seamus O'Sullivan
(1879–1958) (real name James Sullivan Starkey) although her parents opposed the relationship as O'Sullivan was not of the Jewish faith. They married in 1929 after her parents had died. She collaborated with her husband in The Dublin Magazine
(1923-1958), the renowned literary and art magazine, of which O'Sullivan was editor for 35 years.
Estella took up a teaching position at Bolton Street, Dublin. She painted landscapes and portraits, including Jack Yeats, Arthur Griffiths
, poet Austin Clarke
, James Stephens
and George Russell
.
TV documentaries on her life have been shown on RTÉ
and on the History Channel.
The works of Estella Solomon are held in The Niland Collection
, at The Model, County Sligo.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
artists of her generation.
Life
She was born in Dublin, IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, the daughter of Maurice Solomons (1832–1922), an optician whose practice in 19 Nassau St., Dublin, is mentioned in Ulysses
Ulysses (novel)
Ulysses is a novel by the Irish author James Joyce. It was first serialised in parts in the American journal The Little Review from March 1918 to December 1920, and then published in its entirety by Sylvia Beach on 2 February 1922, in Paris. One of the most important works of Modernist literature,...
. Her family, the Solomons, who came to Dublin from England in 1824, are one of the oldest continuous lines of Jews in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Her grandmother Rosa Jacobs Solomons (1833–1926) was born in Hull in England. Her brother Bethel Solomons
Bethel Solomons
Bethel Albert Herbert Solomons was born in Dublin, Ireland, to a prominent Jewish family. He was the son of Maurice Solomons , an optician whose family came to Dublin from England in 1824...
, a renowned physician, master of the Rotunda Hospital
Rotunda Hospital
The Rotunda Hospital is one of the three main maternity hospitals in the city of Dublin, the others being the The Coombe and The National Maternity Hospital...
and Irish international rugby player, is mentioned in Finnegans Wake
Finnegans Wake
Finnegans Wake is a novel by Irish author James Joyce, significant for its experimental style and resulting reputation as one of the most difficult works of fiction in the English language. Written in Paris over a period of seventeen years, and published in 1939, two years before the author's...
. Her brother Edwin (1879–1964) was a stockbroker and prominent member of the Dublin Jewish community. Her younger sister Sophie was a trained opera singer.
In 1898, at the age of 16, she entered the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art. She went on to study in London and Paris, and upon her return to Ireland spent some time painting in County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
. She studied under two of Ireland's leading artists, Walter Osborne
Walter Osborne
Walter Frederick Osborne was an Irish impressionist landscape and portrait painter. Most of his paintings featured women, children, and the elderly as well as rural scenes.-Career:...
and William Orpen
William Orpen
Major Sir William Newenham Montague Orpen, KBE, RA, RHA was an Irish portrait painter, who worked mainly in London...
, and was an early member of the Irish impressionist school. She exhibited in the Leinster Hall, Molesworth St., with contemporaries such as Beatrice Elvery
Beatrice Elvery
Beatrice Moss Elvery was an Irish stained-glass artist and painter.She was the second daughter of a Dublin businessman whose family had originated from Spain where they were silk merchants. Her family owned the original Elverys Sports store in Wicklow Street, Dublin...
, Eva Hamilton and Grace Gifford
Grace Gifford
Grace Evelyn Gifford Plunkett was an Irish artist and cartoonist who was active in the Republican movement...
.
She joined Cumann na mBan
Cumann na mBan
Cumann na mBan is an Irish republican women's paramilitary organisation formed in Dublin on 2 April 1914 as an auxiliary of the Irish Volunteers...
about 1918 and was active in politics before and during the Irish war of independence
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
. She took the republican side in the civil war and her studio was used as a safe house by republican volunteers. She married poet and publisher Seamus O'Sullivan
Seamus O'Sullivan
Seumas or Seamus O'Sullivan, real name James Sullivan Starkey, was an Irish poet and editor of The Dublin Magazine. He was born in Dublin and spent his adult life in the suburb of Rathgar...
(1879–1958) (real name James Sullivan Starkey) although her parents opposed the relationship as O'Sullivan was not of the Jewish faith. They married in 1929 after her parents had died. She collaborated with her husband in The Dublin Magazine
The Dublin Magazine
The Dublin Magazine was an Irish literary journal founded and edited by the poet Seamus O'Sullivan and published in Dublin by New Square Publications....
(1923-1958), the renowned literary and art magazine, of which O'Sullivan was editor for 35 years.
Estella took up a teaching position at Bolton Street, Dublin. She painted landscapes and portraits, including Jack Yeats, Arthur Griffiths
Arthur Griffiths
Arthur Griffiths is a Canadian businessperson, philanthropist, and candidate for political office. He is former owner of the Vancouver Canucks and General Motors Place, and chaired the Vancouver/Whistler 2010 Bid Society which helped to bring the 2010 Winter Olympics to the region...
, poet Austin Clarke
Austin Clarke
Austin Ardinel Chesterfield Clarke, is a Canadian novelist, essayist and short story writer who lives in Toronto, Ontario. Born in St...
, James Stephens
James Stephens (author)
James Stephens was an Irish novelist and poet.James Stephens wrote many retellings of Irish myths and fairy tales. His retellings are marked by a rare combination of humor and lyricism...
and George Russell
George William Russell
George William Russell who wrote under the pseudonym Æ , was an Irish nationalist, writer, editor, critic, poet, and painter. He was also a mystical writer, and centre of a group of followers of theosophy in Dublin, for many years.-Organisor:Russell was born in Lurgan, County Armagh...
.
TV documentaries on her life have been shown on RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
and on the History Channel.
The works of Estella Solomon are held in The Niland Collection
The Niland Collection
The Niland Collection is Sligo's municipal art collection, named after Nora Niland, the County Librarian who began the collection in the 1950s. It has grown to over 300 works and is cared for by, and displayed at, in Sligo, Ireland....
, at The Model, County Sligo.