33 Facts About Estella Solomons

Estella Frances Solomons was one of the leading Irish artists of her generation.

Estella Solomons studied at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art and the Chelsea School of Art.

Estella Solomons was a member of Cumann na mBan and was active during the revolutionary period.

Estella Solomons was noted for her portraits of contemporaries in the republican movement and her studio was a safe house during the War of Independence.

Estella Solomons married poet Seumas O'Sullivan, founder of The Dublin Magazine, and helped to support it financially.

Estella Solomons was elected an honorary member of the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1966, having been an associate since 1925.

Estella Francis Solomons was born on 2 April 1882 in Dublin, Ireland, to Maurice Solomons, and poet Rosa Jane Jacobs.

Estella Solomons's father was an optician whose practice in 19 Nassau Street, Dublin is mentioned in Ulysses.

Estella Solomons's grandmother Rosa Jacobs Solomons, who was born in Hull in England, was the author of a book called Facts and fancies.

Estella Solomons's brother Edwin was a stockbroker and prominent member of the Dublin Jewish community.

Estella Solomons's younger sister Sophie was a trained opera singer.

In 1898, at the age of 16, Estella Solomons entered the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art where she won a significant prize.

Estella Solomons's classmates included future leading Irish artists including Mary Swanzy, Eva Hamilton and William J Leech.

Estella Solomons studied under two of Ireland's leading artists, Walter Osborne, who was another major influence, and William Orpen.

Estella Solomons's work was included in joint exhibitions with other artists at Mills Hall and the Arlington Gallery, London.

Estella Solomons exhibited at her Great Brunswick Street studio in December 1926.

Estella Solomons illustrated Padraic Colum's The Road Round Ireland and DL Kelleher's The Glamour of Dublin in 1928.

Estella Solomons's etching 'A Georgian Doorway' was included in Katherine MacCormack's Leabhar Ultuin in 1920.

Estella Solomons painted landscapes and portraits, including of artist Jack Yeats, politician Arthur Griffiths, poet Austin Clarke, and writers James Stephens and George Russell.

Estella Solomons was elected an associate of the Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts in July 1925, but it was not until 1966 that she was elected an honorary member.

Estella Solomons's work was included in the Academy's annual members' exhibition every year for sixty years.

Estella Solomons was married to poet and publisher Seumas O'Sullivan, whose birth name was James Sullivan Starkey.

Estella Solomons's parents opposed the relationship as O'Sullivan was not of the Jewish faith.

Estella Solomons collaborated with her husband on The Dublin Magazine, the renowned literary and art journal, of which O'Sullivan was editor for 35 years.

Estella Solomons provided vital financial support to the magazine, particularly in sourcing advertising, which was difficult in the tough economic climate of the new Free State.

Estella Solomons was helped in this endeavour by poet and writer, Kathleen Goodfellow, a lifelong friend.

Estella Solomons joined the Ranelagh branch of Cumann na mBan at the same time as Goodfellow.

Estella Solomons was active before and during the Irish War of Independence.

Estella Solomons concealed ammunition in the family vegetable garden before delivering it to a Sinn Fein agent.

Estella Solomons's work includes a portrait of Frank Aiken when we was chief of staff of the IRA.

Estella Solomons took up a teaching position at Bolton Street, Dublin.

Estella Solomons died on 2 November 1968 and is buried in Woodtown Cemetery.

Works of Estella Solomons are held in the Niland Collection, at The Model gallery in Sligo and in the National Gallery of Ireland.