Paintings by the Irish modernist Estella Solomons at the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin (3 September–8 January 2023) provide an insight into a turbulent time in the country’s history. Against the backdrop of the Irish War of Independence, Solomon’s works are explored through the lens of her life-long dedication to the cause of Irish nationalism as a member of Ireland’s Republican women’s organisation Cumann na mBan. Portraits of many of the country’s most prominent revolutionaries document Solomon’s close connections to the movement, with highlights including a portrait of Seán Milroy, who played a large part in the Easter Rising in 1916. The exhibition also explores the artist’s role within Ireland’s close-knit artistic community, as revealed by her portraits of the poet George William Russell and the writer and activist Alice Milligan. Find out more on the National Gallery of Ireland’s website.
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Portrait of Alice Milligan (1866 – 1953) (1918), Estella Solomons. Ulster Museum Collection; © The Trustees of the Estate of Estella Solomons.
Woman in Riding Habit (Kathleen Goodfellow) (c. 1920s), Estella Solomons. National Gallery of Ireland Collection
On Parole (1920), Estella Solomon. Photo: © National Gallery of Ireland; © The Trustees of the Estate of Estella Solomons