Allegorical Self-Portrait, 1873, Simeon Solomon, British, 1840 - 1905, 14 x 8 15/16 in. (35.56 x 22.7 cm) (sheet), Watercolor, gouache and gum arabic over red chalk, England, 19th century, Solomon studied with the Pre-Raphaelite painters Rossetti and Burne-Jones, who were influenced by Italian art of the 15th century. Solomon's friendship with the poet Algernon Charles Swinburne diverted his interests from Old Testament subject matter to quasi-erotic, ancient Greek themes. In 1873, the date of this work, Solomon was arrested for a homosexual solicitation, and became a social outcast. He was completely abandoned by Swinburne and his friends in the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. In this poignant self-portrait, Solomon recognizable by his mass of wavy hair, lowered eyelids, aquiline nose and sharp chin, represents himself as an androgynous, winged, figure clad only in a Greek chlamys, contemplating his tenuous future in a crystal ball beneath a starry sky. Appropriately, he clutches a branch of the plant Solomon's Seal in his left arm. In 1905, Solomon died of chronic alcoholism.
Keywords:
Allegorical Self-Portrait, 1873, Simeon Solomon, British, 1840 - 1905, sheet, Watercolor, gouache, gum arabic, red chalk, England, 19th century, Solomon studied, Pre-Raphaelite painters Rossetti, Burne-Jones, influenced, Italian art, 15th century, Solomon's friendship, poet Algernon Charles Swinburne diverted, interests, Old Testament subject matter, quasi-erotic, ancient Greek themes, 1873, date, work, Solomon, arrested, homosexual solicitation, social outcast, completely abandoned, Swinburne, friends, Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, poignant self-portrait, Solomon recognizable, mass, wavy hair, lowered eyelids, aquiline nose, sharp chin, represents, androgynous, winged, figure clad, Greek chlamys, contemplating, tenuous future, crystal ball beneath, starry sky, Appropriately, clutches, branch, plant Solomon's Seal, left arm, 1905, Solomon died, chronic alcoholism
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