Simeon Solomon (9 October 1840 – 14 August 1905) was a British painter associated with the

Pre-Raphaelites The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (later known as the Pre-Raphaelites) was a group of English painters, poets, and art critics, founded in 1848 by William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Michael Rossetti, Jame ...

who was noted for his depictions of Jewish life and same-sex desire. His career was cut short as a result of public scandal following his arrests and convictions for attempted

sodomy Sodomy () or buggery (British English) is generally anal or oral sex between people, or sexual activity between a person and a non-human animal ( bestiality), but it may also mean any non- procreative sexual activity. Originally, the term ''s ...

in 1873 and 1874.

Biography

Sappho and Erinna in a Garden at Mytilene

Solomon was born into a prominent

Jew Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""T ...

ish family. He was the eighth and last child born to merchant Michael (Meyer) Solomon and artist Catherine (Kate) Levy. Solomon was a younger brother to fellow painters Abraham Solomon (1824–1862) and Rebecca Solomon (1832–1886). Born and educated in London, Solomon started receiving lessons in painting from his older brother around 1850. He started attending Carey's Art Academy in 1852. His older sister first exhibited her works at the

Royal Academy The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its pur ...

during the same year. As a student at the Royal Academy Schools, Solomon was introduced through

Dante Gabriel Rossetti Gabriel Charles Dante Rossetti (12 May 1828 – 9 April 1882), generally known as Dante Gabriel Rossetti (), was an English poet, illustrator, painter, translator and member of the Rossetti family. He founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhoo ...

to other members of the

Pre-Raphaelite The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (later known as the Pre-Raphaelites) was a group of English painters, poets, and art critics, founded in 1848 by William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Michael Rossetti, Jam ...

circle, as well as the poet

Algernon Charles Swinburne Algernon Charles Swinburne (5 April 1837 – 10 April 1909) was an English poet, playwright, novelist, and critic. He wrote several novels and collections of poetry such as '' Poems and Ballads'', and contributed to the famous Eleventh Edition ...

and the painter

Edward Burne-Jones Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, 1st Baronet, (; 28 August, 183317 June, 1898) was a British painter and designer associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood which included Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Millais, Ford Madox Brown and Holman ...

in 1857. His first exhibition was at the Royal Academy in 1858. He continued to hold exhibitions of his work at the Royal Academy between 1858 and 1872. In addition to the literary paintings favoured by the Pre-Raphaelite school, Solomon's subjects often included scenes from the

Hebrew Bible The Hebrew Bible or Tanakh (;"Tanach"
'' genre painting Genre painting (or petit genre), a form of genre art, depicts aspects of everyday life by portraying ordinary people engaged in common activities. One common definition of a genre scene is that it shows figures to whom no identity can be attache ...

s depicting Jewish life and rituals. His association with Swinburne led to his illustrating Swinburne's controversial novel ''

Lesbia Brandon ''Lesbia Brandon'' is an erotic novel written by Algernon Charles Swinburne between 1859 and 1868, but suppressed because it was considered pornographic in its day. It was originally illustrated by Simeon Solomon. Titled and published Never co ...

'' in 1865. In 1873, Simeon was arrested for soliciting in public toilets and having sex with a 60-year-old stableman named George Roberts. Both men were charged with indecent exposure and an attempt to commit buggery. Both were found guilty, fined £100 and sentenced to 18 months hard labour.William A. Peniston, "Pederasts and others: urban culture and sexual identity in nineteenth-century Paris", ''Haworth gay & lesbian studies'', Routledge, 2004, , pp. 77–78. He was arrested again in 1874 in Paris on a similar charge, after which he was sentenced to spend three months in prison. After his prosecutions he no longer exhibited, but his work was collected by such figures as

Oscar Wilde Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 185430 November 1900) was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular playwrights in London in the early 1890s. He is ...

John Addington Symonds John Addington Symonds, Jr. (; 5 October 1840 – 19 April 1893) was an English poet and literary critic. A cultural historian, he was known for his work on the Renaissance, as well as numerous biographies of writers and artists. Although m ...

, Count Eric Stenbock, and

Walter Pater Walter Horatio Pater (4 August 1839 – 30 July 1894) was an English essayist, art critic and literary critic, and fiction writer, regarded as one of the great stylists. His first and most often reprinted book, ''Studies in the History of the Re ...

. In 1884, he was admitted to the

workhouse In Britain, a workhouse () was an institution where those unable to support themselves financially were offered accommodation and employment. (In Scotland, they were usually known as poorhouses.) The earliest known use of the term ''workhouse' ...

where he continued to produce work, but his life and talent were blighted by

alcoholism Alcoholism is, broadly, any drinking of alcohol that results in significant mental or physical health problems. Because there is disagreement on the definition of the word ''alcoholism'', it is not a recognized diagnostic entity. Predomi ...

. Twenty years later in 1905, he died from complications brought on by his alcoholism. He was buried at the

Jewish Cemetery A Jewish cemetery ( he, בית עלמין ''beit almin'' or ''beit kvarot'') is a cemetery where Jews are buried in keeping with Jewish tradition. Cemeteries are referred to in several different ways in Hebrew, including ''beit kevarot' ...

Willesden Willesden () is an area of northwest London, situated 5 miles (8 km) northwest of Charing Cross. It is historically a parish in the county of Middlesex that was incorporated as the Municipal Borough of Willesden in 1933, and has forme ...

. Examples of his work are on permanent display at the

Victoria and Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.27 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and nam ...

, Wightwick Manor in

Wolverhampton Wolverhampton () is a city, metropolitan borough and administrative centre in the West Midlands, England. The population size has increased by 5.7%, from around 249,500 in 2011 to 263,700 in 2021. People from the city are called "Wulfrunians ...

, and at Leighton House in west London. Retrospectives of his work have been held at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery in 2005–6, and in London at the

Ben Uri Gallery The Ben Uri Gallery & Museum is a registered museum and charity based at 108a Boundary Road, off Abbey Road in St John's Wood, London, England. It features the work and lives of émigré artists in London, and describes itself as "The Art Museum ...

in 2006.

Exhibitions

1906

* ''Paintings and Drawings by the Late Simeon Solomon'', Baillie Gallery, 54 Baker St, London. 9 December 1905–13 January 1906 * ''Winter Exhibition of Works of the Old Masters and Deceased Masters of the British School'', Royal Academy, London. 1 January–10 March 1906 * Exhibition of Jewish Art and Antiquities, Whitechapel Art Gallery. 7 November–16 December 1906 * Exeter Museum and Art Gallery. April 1906

1907

* ''Jewish Exhibition'', Gallery of Ancient and Modern Art, Berlin

1908

* Whitechapel Art Gallery. March 1908 * Franco-British Exhibition, London. July–August 1908

1913

* ''Pre-Raphaelite Painters from Collections in Lancashire'', Tate Britain, London. 17 July 1913–28 September 1913

1923

* National Gallery of British Art (Tate). July 1923

1934

* ''Jewish Art'', Ben Uri Gallery. May 1934

1946

* ''Subjects of Jewish Interest'', Ben Uri Gallery. December 1946

1964

* ''Exhibition of English Watercolours,'' Leger Galleries

1965

* ''Exhibition of English Watercolours 18th & 19th Century'', Leger Galleries

1966

* ''Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings by Simeon Solomon'', Durlacher Brothers Gallery, 538 Madison Ave, NYC. In May the exhibition moved to Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA. April–May 1966

1985

* ''Acquisitions of the Friends of the Art Museums of Israel,'' Ben Uri Gallery. March 1985 * ''Solomon: A family of painters—Abraham Solomon, 1823-1862, Rebecca Solomon, 1832-1886, Simeon Solomon, 1840-1905''. Geffrye Museum, London, 8 November–31 December 1985; Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, 18 January–9 March 1986

2001

* ''From Prodigy to Outcast: Simeon Solomon, Pre-Raphaelite Artist'', Jewish Museum, London. March 2001–May 2001

2002

* Solomon Art Exhibition, Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery. April 2002–June 2002

2005

* ''Love Revealed: Simeon Solomon and the Pre-Raphaelites'', Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. 1 October 2005–15 January 2006 * ''Waking Dreams: The Art of the Pre-Raphaelites from the Delaware Art Museum'', Various Locations in the UK and USA. 19 March 2005–29 July 2007

2006

* ''Love Revealed: Simeon Solomon and the Pre-Raphaelites,'' Museum Villa Stuck, Munich. 9 March–18 June 2006 * ''Love Revealed: Simeon Solomon and the Pre-Raphaelites'', Ben Uri Gallery, The London Jewish Museum of Art. 11 September–26 November 2006

2008

* ''Blake's Shadow: William Blake and his Artistic Legacy'', Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester. 26 January 2008–20 April 2008

2010

* ''The Pre-Raphaelites and Italy'', Museo d'Arte della città di Ravenna, Ravenna, Italy. 28 February 2010–6 June 2010 * ''The Pre-Raphaelites and Italy,'' Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. 15 September 2010–5 December 2010

2017

''Queer British Art 1861-1967''

Tate Britain Tate Britain, known from 1897 to 1932 as the National Gallery of British Art and from 1932 to 2000 as the Tate Gallery, is an art museum on Millbank in the City of Westminster in London, England. It is part of the Tate network of galleries in ...

, 5 April–1 October 2017, included seven works by Solomon and a performance o
''A Vision of Love Revealed in Sleep''
Neil Bartlett's one-man homage to Solomon, performed 7 July 2017.

Gallery

File:Solomon Simeon Babylon hath been a golden cup.jpg, ''Babylon Hath Been a Golden Cup'', 1859 File:Solomon,_Simeon_-_Socrates_%26_Agathodemos.jpg, ''Socrates and Agathodemos'', ca. 1860 File:Ruth Naomi Obed.jpg, '' Ruth and Naomi holding the infant Obed'', 1860 File:Simeon Solomon - Shadrach Meshach Abednego.JPG, ''

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Hebrew names Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah) are figures from the biblical Book of Daniel, primarily chapter 3. In the narrative, the three Hebrew men are thrown into a fiery furnace by Nebuchadnezzar II, King o ...

'', 1863 File:'In the Temple of Venus' by Simeon Solomon, 1863, watercolor.jpg, ''In the Temple of Venus'', 1863 File:Simeon Solomon, The Bride, Bridegroom and Sad Love, 1865.jpg, ''The Bride, Bridegroom and Sad Love'', 1865 File:CopticBaptismalProcessionSolomon.JPG, ''Coptic Baptismal Procession'', 1865 File:Solomon Autumn.jpg, ''Love in Autumn'', 1866 File:Heliogabalus_High_Priest_of_the_Sun.jpg, ''Heliogabalus, High Priest of the Sun'', 1866 File:Simeon_Solomon_-_Bacchus_1867_(28456089720).jpg, ''Bacchus'', 1867 File:Solomon Simeon Night.jpg, ''Night'', 1890

In literature

's long prison letter to Lord Alfred Douglas, '' De Profundis'', Wilde writes of his

bankrupt Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people or other entities who cannot repay debts to creditors may seek relief from some or all of their debts. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor ...

cy: "That all my charming things were to be sold: my Burne-Jones drawings: my Whistler drawings: my

Monticelli Monticelli may refer to: Places in Italy ;Municipalities (''comuni'') * Monticelli Brusati, in the Province of Brescia * Monticelli d'Ongina, in the Province of Piacenza * Monticelli Pavese, in the Province of Pavia * Monte San Biagio, in the ...

: my Simeon Solomons: my china: my Library…"

References and sources

;References ;Sources * Geoffrey Wigoder, "Everyman's Judaica: an encyclopedic dictionary", Keter Publishing House Jerusalem, 1975, , p. 562

External links

''Self-Portrait''
by Simeon Solomon at age 19 (1859)
The Simeon Solomon Research Archive
a wide-ranging repository of information about the artist and his artist siblings Abraham and Rebecca
Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery's Pre-Raphaelite Online Resource
includes many works by Simeon Solomon

article by Neil Bartlett from ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers '' The Observer'' and '' The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the ...

'', 7 October 2005.
''A Vision of Love Revealed in Sleep''
Neil Bartlett's one-man homage to Simeon Solomon, performed at the

, 7 July 2017.
"The Biblical Illustrations of Simeon Solomon"
by Simon Cooke, PhD
"Simeon Solomon"
by Sidney Colvin, from ''English Painters of the Present Day'' (1871) *
Works by Simeon Solomon
in the collection of the

Tate Tate is an institution that houses, in a network of four art galleries, the United Kingdom's national collection of British art, and international modern and contemporary art. It is not a government institution, but its main sponsor is the U ...

Works by Simeon Solomon
in the collection of the V&A, including works photographed by

Frederick Hollyer Frederick Hollyer (17 June 1838 – 21 November 1933) was an English photographer and engraver known for his photographic reproductions of paintings and drawings, particularly those of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, and for portraits of lite ...

Simeon Solomon entry
at ArtUK.org {{DEFAULTSORT:Solomon, Simeon 1840 births 1905 deaths 19th-century English male artists 19th-century English painters 19th-century LGBT people 20th-century English male artists 20th-century English painters 20th-century LGBT people Artists' Rifles soldiers Burials at Willesden Jewish Cemetery English Jews English male painters Gay artists Jewish painters LGBT artists from the United Kingdom LGBT Jews LGBT people from England Orientalist painters Painters from London People convicted for homosexuality in the United Kingdom People from the City of London Pre-Raphaelite painters Royal Society of Portrait Painters Sibling artists