Simeon Solomon caught my attention when I started researching for artists from the Pre-Raphaelites period with his paintings, I quickly became invested in his life story and I would like to briefly share that with you. Being the final child of 7 other siblings in a relatively skilled household of artists, Simeon Solomon was born on October 9, 1840 in London. He was inspired by Shakespeare, the Bible and other popular Pre-Raphaelite artists, which, fun fact, he met, for example; Dante Gabriel Rossetti and John Everett Millais.
He later discovered a love for the classism style and went on to create some pieces that were previously deemed as controversial as he was figuring out his sexuality during the ripe times of blatant homophobia in Victorian England. I was shocked to later find out that he was arrested in a public urinal with an older man for sodomy, however when he was released, he still went on to become an influential figure with the help of others who were inspired by his works.
2 replies on “Simeon Solomon: The Homosexual Icon of the Pre-Raphaelite Period”
Kathleen,
I’m getting in touch with everyone today to give them their real marks for the mid term quiz. You scored a 37/50 which translates to a B. Congrats.
Jeff
Kathleen,
Thanks for introducing me to an artist I knew virtually nothing about! I really appreciate it when students dig deeper in art history to discover hidden gems and this seems to be one of them. Good research and personal thoughts about the artist which is, I’ll say it again, what I’m looking for. As an aside Sodomy between men became a capital crime in English law in 1533. It underwent numerous amendments over the centuries but was not decriminalized until 1967.
Jeff