Estella Solomons  Estella Francis Solomons (1882–1968) was one of the leading Irish artists of her generation. She was born in Dublin, Ireland, the daughter of Maurice Solomons (1832–1922), and poet Rosa Jane Jacobs. Her father, an optician whose practice in 19 Nassau St., Dublin, is mentioned in "Ulysses". Her family, the Solomons, who came to Dublin from England in 1824, are one of the oldest continuous lines of Jews in Ireland. Her grandmother Rosa Jacobs Solomons (1833–1926) who was born in Hull in England, was the author of a book called "Facts and fancies" (Dublin 1883). Estella's brother Bethel Solomons, a renowned physician, master of the Rotunda Hospital and Irish international rugby player, is mentioned in "Finnegans Wake". Her brother Edwin (1879–1964) was a stockbroker and prominent member of the Dublin Jewish community. Her younger sister Sophie was a trained opera singer. A portrait of Sophie, by her cousin the printmaker Louise Jacobs, survives in the Estella Solomons archives in the Library of Trinity College Dublin. In 1898, at the age of 16, she entered the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art where she won a significant prize. Her classmates included some who went on to become leading Irish artists including Mary Swanzy, Eva Hamilton (1876-1960) and William J. Leech (1881-1968).She also attended the Chelsea School of Art from 1903 - 1906. A visit to the tercentenary exhibition of the work of Rembrandt in Amsterdam in 1903 impacted her creative practice and may have influenced her adoption of printmaking as her principle vehicle of expression. She studied under two of Ireland's leading artists, Walter Osborne, who was another major influence, and William Orpen. With her friends Cissie Beckett (aunt of Samuel Beckett) and Beatrice Elvery, she went to study in Paris in Colorossi's studio. When she returned she exhibited in the Leinster Hall, Molesworth St., with contemporaries such as Beatrice Elvery, Eva Hamilton and Grace Gifford. Her work was also included in joint exhibitions with other artists at Mills Hall (1919, with Mary Duncan) and the Arlington Gallery, London (1935, with Louise Jacobs). She also exhibited at her Great Brunswick St. studio in December 1926. Solomons illustrated Padraic Colum's "The road round Ireland" (1926) and DL Kelleher's "The Glamour of Dublin" in 1928.