ADLER, Salomon

German painter. There were few Jewish secular artists in Europe prior to the Emancipation that spread throughout Europe with the Napoleonic conquests. There were few exceptions: Salomon Adler, a prominent portrait painter was one of the earliest, and most successful Jewish painters in post-medieval Europe for which there is any documentation.

Adler was active in Milan and Bergamo, where he became well respected as a portrait painter. His style suggests that he was a direct influence on Fra Galgario during his time in Bergamo, and in the immediate, highly realistic nature of his portraits this influence becomes evident. In fact, Fra Galgario painted a portrait of Adler late in life (Accademia Carrara, Bergamo).

Adler executed a handful of self-portraits during his career, a mature example can be found in the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest.