Solomon J Solomon's Samson: a Jewish masterpiece in the Walker Art Gallery

An unmissable painting in the Walker Art Gallery, Solomon J Solomon’s Samson created a sensation when first exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1887, marking out its artist as a rising star. Julian’s lecture looks at Solomon's career, and some of the problems he faced as a Jew in the late Victorian and Edwardian art world - he was only the second Jew to become a Royal Academician. In addition to his success as a painter, his career took a surprising turn during the First World War when he became an expert in camouflage painting.

Art historian Julian Treuherz was Keeper of Art Galleries for National Museums Liverpool from 1989 to 2007. At the Walker, he curated exhibitions on Alma-Tadema, Rossetti and Art in the Age of Steam. Since retiring he curated the Ford Madox Brown exhibition in Manchester, published a book about the Art and Architecture of Sicily and jointly authored guidebooks to Manchester and Liverpool in the ‘111 Places’ series.