Information

This wood engraving was produced to illustrate the article 'Jews in England', that appeared in the magazine 'Once a Week' in August 1862. In the article the author attempts to summarise Jewish religious practices for a largely non-Jewish audience aided by three illustrations after designs by Solomon (see also 1978P554.3). This illustration depicts the custom of lighting the lamps before the start of the Sabbath on a Friday evening. It shows a woman lighting a two-tier nineteenth century ceiling lamp surrounded by her family. On the table in front of her are the prayer book and wine used at the start of the Sabbath. This illustration, along with nine others by Solomon of 'the ceremonies of modern Jewish ritual, domestic and ecclesiastical,' was published in a series of photographs in 1862 by Coundall, Downes & Co. (Gleeson White, 'English illustration in the Sixties,' p. 83). The same designs were republished as wood engravings in 1866 in the periodical 'Leisure Hour' (vol. 15) as 'Illustrations of Jewish Customs.'Solomon was born into an observant Jewish family, and produced many works directly or indirectly connected with the Jewish faith. During his early career these were primarily subjects from the Old Testament and more rarely, as here, scenes of contemporary life. However, he became increasingly interested in the emotional, spiritual and aesthetic aspects of the practice of faith, moving towards images which capture religious fervour rather than accurately depicting religious practices.

  • Accessioned, 1978.
  • © Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery

Makers

Association Artist Organisation
Artist Simeon Solomon -

Inscriptions

Type Position(s) Method Date(s) Notes
Lighting the Lamps, Eve of the Sabbeth (see p. 194.)
Title below image Printed 1862 Ink.
 

Exhibitions

Catalogue No. Venue Date(s)
Love Revealed: Simeon Solomon and the Pre-Raphaelites
83b Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery 2005-10-01 - 2006-01-15
83b Museum Villa Stuck, Munich 2006-03-09 - 2006-06-18
83b Ben Uri Gallery, The London Jewish Museum of Art 2006-09-11 - 2006-11-26
 

Literature

Author(s) Date(s) Publisher Pages
Once a Week
9 August 1862 - vol. 7, p. 192
 
Solomon: A Family of Painters
1985 Geffrye Museum, London p.10-11
 
The British Pre-Raphaelite Illustrators
Gregory Suriano 2005 Oak Knell Press, Newcastle, USA, and the British Library, London pp. 230-231, 330; repr. p. 229
 
Love Revealed: Simeon Solomon and the Pre-Raphaelites
Colin Cruise 2005 Merrell, London and New York p.128; repr. p. 128

Provenance

Acquired before 1978.

Related work & resources

Discuss this work

Start a discussion about this work.

You need to login to discuss this work. Click here to login.

If you are not yet registered click here to become a member.
Find out more about membership