Bound volume of artwork by Solomon Alexander Hart

Description

Around 600 sketches by Hart mounted in a scrapbook which was owned by the Barker family. The artworks are in pencil and ink and wash, with some watercolours.

The artworks have been allocated a consecutive number starting from 1. This is written in pencil on the scrapbook beside each artwork in an unknown hand. The volume has also been paginated with a brief interruption at p.117 when a page has been missed out.

There are many sketches of Roman Catholic ecclesiastical scenes. Some of these may have been executed during Hart's visit to Florence in 1841. There are many historically themed works, a large number of which are medieval. Artworks 46-49 and 51 (pp.24-5) are studies for the painting of 'The Quarrel of Wolsey and Buckingham' (1834) by Hart. The album includes a copy of an engraving of Hart's final painting. No. 56 (p.27) is a preliminary sketch for his painting 'King Richard I of England and Soldan Saladin' (1835). No. 351 (opposite p.116) is a preliminary painting for Hart's 'The arrival of Cardinal Wolsey at Leicester Abbey' (1833). There are preliminary studies for his painting of a lady taking the veil executed for the Marquis of Lansdowne.

A few of the artworks are annotated and dated by Hart.

On a loose back flyleaf there is an inscription '608 drawings & sketches Oct 30 1896, B. Barker'. This is probably Benjamin Barker, Aldred Farrer Barker's father.

The volume contains a list of Solomon Hart's works in an unknown hand, possibly Benjamin's. This is dated 28 Sep 1902 and is loose next to artwork no. 458 (p.165).

Biography or history

Solomon Alexander Hart (1806-1881) was a British artist and engraver. Hart was born in Plymouth, the son of Samuel Hart, an engraver and teacher of Hebrew. In 1820 his family moved to London. Hart's early paintings primarily had Jewish themes. Not wishing to be known as a purely a painter of religious ceremony, he began to paint historical themes. In the 1830s Hart contributed wood engraved illustrations to various publications, including some for Sir Walter Scott's Waverley novels. These included Rebecca in 'Ivanhoe' (1834) and Edith Plantagenet in 'The Talisman' (1834). Enrolled in 1840, he was the first Jewish member of the Royal Academy. In September 1841 Hart travelled to Italy staying for a year. After this he added Roman Catholic ecclesiastical motifs to his works. From 1854-1863 Hart was professor of painting at the Royal Academy and his lectures were very popular. He greatly expanded the Royal Academy's library during his tenure as librarian from 1864-1881. Hart
died in London in 1881 and was buried at Brompton Jewish cemetery.

Provenance

The scrapbook and sketches were owned by Benjamin Barker a flannel manufacturer with a factory, Sheepshanks Mill, in Leeds. They were probably passed to his son Aldred Farrar Barker.

Access and usage

Reproduction

Access

This item is fragile and may be unavailable on conservation grounds. Access is at the discretion of the Conservation Officer. A digital surrogate is linked to the catalogue record.

This material is in copyright. Photocopies or digital images can be supplied by the Library for research or private study. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain the copyright holder's permission to reproduce for any other purpose. Guidance is available on tracing copyright status and ownership.

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