Estella Solomons facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Estella Francis Solomons
Born	2 April 1882 Dublin, Ireland
Died	2 November 1968 Dublin, Ireland
Resting place	Woodtown Cemetery
Education	Dublin Metropolitan School of Art, Chelsea School of Art
Known for	Painting, portraiture, etching, print-making
Notable work	Portrait of a Woman; Portrait of Jack B Yeats; Woman in a Red Tie; Portrait of Alice Milligan; On Parole
Spouse(s)	Seumas O'Sullivan
Elected	Honorary member of the Royal Hibernian Academy (HRHA)
Memorial(s)	Plaque at The Grove on Morehampton Road, Dublin

Estella Francis Solomons (born April 2, 1882 – died November 2, 1968) was a very important Irish artist. She was known for her paintings, especially portraits, and for her etchings. Estella came from a well-known Jewish family in Dublin.

She studied art at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art and the Chelsea School of Art. Estella was also involved in Irish politics. She was a member of Cumann na mBan, a women's organization that played a role in the fight for Irish independence. Her art studio was even used as a safe place during the Irish War of Independence.

Estella married the poet Seumas O'Sullivan. He started The Dublin Magazine, and Estella helped support it. Their home was a popular spot where many Irish artists, writers, and thinkers would meet. Estella Solomons became an honorary member of the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1966.

Estella's Early Life and Family

Estella Francis Solomons was born in Dublin, Ireland, on April 2, 1882. Her father, Maurice Solomons, was an optician. He was also the Vice-Consul for Austria-Hungary. Her mother was Rosa Jane Jacobs, a poet.

The Solomons family came to Dublin from England in 1824. They are one of the oldest Jewish families in Ireland. Estella's grandmother, Rosa Jacobs Solomons, was also a writer. Estella had a famous brother named Bethel Solomons. He was a well-known doctor and a rugby player for Ireland. Her brother Edwin was a stockbroker. Her younger sister Sophie was an opera singer.

Her Journey as an Artist

Estella Solomons began her art studies in 1898 at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art. She was only 16 years old and won an important prize there. She studied with other artists who would become famous, like Mary Swanzy. From 1903 to 1906, she also attended the Chelsea School of Art.

In 1903, Estella visited an exhibition of Rembrandt's work in Amsterdam. This trip greatly influenced her art. It may have inspired her to focus on printmaking. She learned from two leading Irish artists, Walter Osborne and William Orpen. She also studied in Paris at Colorossi's studio with her friends.

When she returned to Ireland, Estella showed her art in exhibitions. She illustrated books like Padraic Colum's The Road Round Ireland (1926). She also illustrated The Glamour of Dublin (1928) by DL Kelleher. Her etching 'A Georgian Doorway' was in a book called Leabhar Ultuin (1920). This book helped raise money for a children's hospital in Dublin.

Estella painted many landscapes and portraits. She painted famous people like artist Jack Yeats and writer James Stephens. In 1925, she became an associate of the Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts. She became an honorary member in 1966. Her art was shown in their annual exhibitions for 60 years!

Estella's Personal Life

Estella Solomons married the poet and publisher Seumas O'Sullivan. His real name was James Sullivan Starkey. Estella's parents did not approve of the marriage at first. This was because Seumas was not Jewish. They married in 1925 after her parents had passed away. Estella was 43 and Seumas was 46.

Estella worked with her husband on The Dublin Magazine. Seumas was the editor for 35 years. Estella helped the magazine a lot by finding money and advertising. This was hard to do in the new Irish Free State. Her friend, writer Kathleen Goodfellow, helped her with this. Kathleen was a lifelong friend. When Estella and Seumas needed a new home, Kathleen offered them a house next to hers for a very low rent.

Her Political Activities

Estella Solomons joined the Ranelagh branch of Cumann na mBan. This was a women's group that supported Irish independence. She learned first aid and other skills there. Estella was very active before and during the Irish War of Independence.

She even hid ammunition in her family's vegetable garden. Then she delivered it to a Sinn Féin agent. Her art studio was used as a safe house for Irish volunteers. During this time, she painted portraits of many revolutionaries. She sometimes had to destroy these paintings to protect the people in them. She painted a portrait of Frank Aiken, who was a leader of the IRA.

Later Life and Legacy

Later in her life, Estella Solomons taught at Bolton Street College in Dublin. In 1939, she organized an art exhibition in Dublin. This exhibition helped artists who were refugees from Europe.

Estella Solomons passed away on November 2, 1968. She is buried in Woodtown Cemetery. Her friend Kathleen Goodfellow gave the Morehampton Road Wildlife Sanctuary to An Taisce. This was a place where Estella loved to paint. There are now two plaques there, one for Estella and one for Kathleen.

Where to See Her Art

You can find Estella Solomons' artworks in several places. Some are in the Niland Collection at The Model gallery in Sligo. Others are at the National Gallery of Ireland. Her personal archives, including artworks and photos, are kept at the Library of Trinity College Dublin. The archives of The Dublin Magazine are also there.