Solomon Alexander Hart
Encyclopedia
Solomon Alexander Hart was a British painter
and engraver
. He was the first Jewish member of the Royal Academy
in London and was probably the most important Jewish artist working in England in the 19th century.
He was born at Plymouth
, the son of Samuel Hart, a Jewish goldsmith
, engraver, and Hebrew
teacher. He remained an observant Jew all his life. He and his father moved to London in 1820, to be placed as a pupil with Charles Warren
to study line engraving
.
Solomon began his studies by drawing classical sculpture
at the British Museum
, but had to support himself and his father by painting miniature copies and colouring theatrical prints in the evenings. In 1823 he was admitted to the Royal Academy Schools and began to exhibit there three years later. He became celebrated as a painter of historical scenes and characters.
In 1828, he exhibited a painting in oils at the British Institution
, which was favourably received, and from that time he devoted himself chiefly to historical and genre compositions. He at once achieved a reputation by some scenes from the Jewish ceremonial. Hart's early works include scenes like the well received Interior of a Polish Synagogue (1830; Tate Britain
). The sketch depicts the interior of Plymouth Synagogue
, which was built in the early 1760s and is one of the oldest in Britain still standing.
However, hoping to be more than a painter of "merely religious ceremonies", Hart began to address historical and literary subjects, painting scenes from Scott and Shakespeare
and the romantic episodes of history. His Royal Academy diploma work of 1838 is a late 16th-century scene showing figures listening attentively to a reading from the works of Shakespeare. Between 1845 and 1850, he recurred to Jewish subjects.
He visited Italy in 1841–42, and made an elaborate series of drawings of historical sites and architectural interiors which he hoped to publish, notably Interior of a Church in Florence, Interior, St. Mark's, Venice, and The Feast of the Rejoicing of the Law.
In 1835 he was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy, and a Royal Academician on 10 February 1840, making him the first Jew to be thus honoured. Hart was an active member of the institution and by 1854 he had been appointed professor of painting, holding that office until 1863. His most influential contribution was as the Academy's librarian, a post he held from 1864 until his death, during which time he added over 2000 books to the collection.
He died on 11 June 1881, at the age of 75. His work is the collection in many galleries, including the Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle, Tate
and the Victoria and Albert
, British Museum, London.
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Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and engraver
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
. He was the first Jewish member of the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
in London and was probably the most important Jewish artist working in England in the 19th century.
He was born at Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, the son of Samuel Hart, a Jewish goldsmith
Goldsmith
A goldsmith is a metalworker who specializes in working with gold and other precious metals. Since ancient times the techniques of a goldsmith have evolved very little in order to produce items of jewelry of quality standards. In modern times actual goldsmiths are rare...
, engraver, and Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
teacher. He remained an observant Jew all his life. He and his father moved to London in 1820, to be placed as a pupil with Charles Warren
Charles Warren (engraver)
Charles Warren was an English line engraver.-Life and work:Warren was born in London, and of his early career the only facts recorded are that he married at the age of eighteen, and was at one time engaged in engraving on metal for calico printing...
to study line engraving
Line engraving
Line engraving is a term for engraved images printed on paper to be used as prints or illustrations. The term is now much less used and when is, it is mainly in connection with 18th or 19th century commercial illustrations for magazines and books, or reproductions of paintings.Steel engraving is...
.
Classical sculpture
Classical sculpture refers to the forms of sculpture from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, as well as the Hellenized and Romanized civilizations under their rule or influence from about 500 BC to fall of Rome in AD 476. It also refers stylistically to modern sculptures done in a classical style....
at the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
, but had to support himself and his father by painting miniature copies and colouring theatrical prints in the evenings. In 1823 he was admitted to the Royal Academy Schools and began to exhibit there three years later. He became celebrated as a painter of historical scenes and characters.
In 1828, he exhibited a painting in oils at the British Institution
British Institution
The British Institution was a private 19th-century society in London formed to exhibit the works of living and dead artists; it was also known as the Pall Mall Picture Galleries or the British Gallery...
, which was favourably received, and from that time he devoted himself chiefly to historical and genre compositions. He at once achieved a reputation by some scenes from the Jewish ceremonial. Hart's early works include scenes like the well received Interior of a Polish Synagogue (1830; Tate Britain
Tate Britain
Tate Britain is an art gallery situated on Millbank in London, and part of the Tate gallery network in Britain, with Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives. It is the oldest gallery in the network, opening in 1897. It houses a substantial collection of the works of J. M. W. Turner.-History:It...
). The sketch depicts the interior of Plymouth Synagogue
Plymouth Synagogue
The Plymouth Synagogue is a synagogue in the city of Plymouth, England. Built in 1762 it is a Listed Grade II* building and the oldest synagogue built by Ashkenazi Jews in the English speaking world. -History:...
, which was built in the early 1760s and is one of the oldest in Britain still standing.
However, hoping to be more than a painter of "merely religious ceremonies", Hart began to address historical and literary subjects, painting scenes from Scott and Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
and the romantic episodes of history. His Royal Academy diploma work of 1838 is a late 16th-century scene showing figures listening attentively to a reading from the works of Shakespeare. Between 1845 and 1850, he recurred to Jewish subjects.
He visited Italy in 1841–42, and made an elaborate series of drawings of historical sites and architectural interiors which he hoped to publish, notably Interior of a Church in Florence, Interior, St. Mark's, Venice, and The Feast of the Rejoicing of the Law.
In 1835 he was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy, and a Royal Academician on 10 February 1840, making him the first Jew to be thus honoured. Hart was an active member of the institution and by 1854 he had been appointed professor of painting, holding that office until 1863. His most influential contribution was as the Academy's librarian, a post he held from 1864 until his death, during which time he added over 2000 books to the collection.
He died on 11 June 1881, at the age of 75. His work is the collection in many galleries, including the Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle, Tate
Tate
-Places:*Tate, Georgia, a town in the United States*Tate County, Mississippi, a county in the United States*Táté, the Hungarian name for Totoi village, Sântimbru Commune, Alba County, Romania*Tate, Filipino word for States...
and the Victoria and Albert
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
, British Museum, London.
Early works
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