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Lance Solomon

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Lance Vaiben Solomon (27 January 1913 – 1989) was an Australian painter, noted for his landscapes. He won the prestigious Wynne Prize on two occasions.

History

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Lance was born in Liverpool, New South Wales, a son of Edwin Arthur Vaiben Solomon (20 September 1877 – ), a cabinetmaker, and his wife Jessie Elizabeth Solomon, née Black (1874 – 13 May 1951).[1] Vaiben Solomon (1802–1860) an emancipist transported in 1818 was a grandfather.

He grew up in a house built by his grandfather in Liverpool, which was then bushland on the outskirts of Sydney, moving to Manly in 1920. He always loved drawing, but had little interest in other classes, and left school at age 15. Despite the harsh economic times he was able to earn a few shillings with his pencil and watercolors. At Marsfield he met Robert Johnson (1890–1964), who introduced him to oils.[2] Sometime around 1930 he took lessons with J. S. Watkins and classes at the East Sydney Technical College. He mounted a one-man exhibition at the Rubery Bennett Galleries in 1937, which drew favorable reviews[3] and at another in 1938 sold a large work to influential art patron Howard Hinton.[4] In 1938 he married longtime girlfriend Beryl Naismith,[2] and moved to Narrabeen.

In 1939 he won a New South Wales Travelling Art Scholarship,[5] which enabled him to study at the Royal Academy School in London. Soon after, however, Britain was at war with Germany and hoped-for travels through Europe were dashed, but his time in England was not totally wasted: he gaining the patronage of Sir Reginald Brundit[2] and took some lessons with a German Jew named Bloch, before returning to Sydney in April 1940.[6]

He had joined the Citizens' Military Forces, as a volunteer, in May 1931, giving his trade as "electrician", place of employment 175 George Street, Sydney, and served with the Citizens' Air Force as photographer, discharged in 1933.[7] so offered his services with the 2nd AIF in 1940 and served for a time as a cook at Greta, New South Wales.[2]

In 1947 he sold his painting Country Lane to the National Gallery of New South Wales. He was praised by Norman Lindsay and by The Bulletin, consequently tickets to his exhibitions were quickly sold out. The Government presented Elizabeth, the Queen Mother with one painting, Blue Lagoon, and Percy Spender, the American Consul, with another.

Feeling intimidated by constant attention, Solomon left his beautiful home at Narroween for "Brushwoods", a derelict bush shack, then in 1962 for a cottage at Umina.

In January 1988 a retrospective exhibition, recognising fifty years of his work, was held at Gosford Gallery. It was his last exhibition before he died.

Family

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They had two sons: Trevor (born 1940), and Clifford (born 1942).

Recognition

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His work is shown in the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra and several State galleries.

Bibliography

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Jennings, Eddi and Benkendorff, Robin. A Tribute to Lance Vaiben Solomon (1913–1989). ill. SOLOMON, Lance Vaiben. Kenthurst, Sydney: Dekiki, 1990. Includes a Foreword by Sir William Dargie and Biographical Notes, inc. many references to Norman Lindsay, who was a sincere friend of Solomon.

Sources

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  • McCulloch, Alan Encyclopedia of Australian Art Hutchinson of London 1968

References

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  1. ^ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 35, 379. New South Wales, Australia. 14 May 1951. p. 12. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ a b c d Brendan Quinlan (2022). "Art Is in the Blood". Retrieved 9 August 2024. Quinlan drew from "A Tribute to Lance Vaiben Solomon (1913–1989)". ill. SOLOMON, Lance Vaiben. Kenthurst, Sydney: Dekiki, 1990.
  3. ^ "Art Exhibition". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 31, 158. New South Wales, Australia. 12 November 1937. p. 9. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Lance Solomon". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 31, 444. New South Wales, Australia. 12 October 1938. p. 19. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Travelling Art Scholarship". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 31, 607. New South Wales, Australia. 20 April 1939. p. 8. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Australian Landscape Artist Taken For Spy". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. V, no. 12. New South Wales, Australia. 5 April 1940. p. 7. Retrieved 9 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Attestation papers: Solomon, L. [C.7395]". National Archives of Australia.
  8. ^ "Travelling Art Scholarship". The Sydney Morning Herald. 20 April 1939. p. 8. Retrieved 7 February 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
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