Salomon van Abbé (also known as Jack van Abbé or Jack Abbey) was born into a family of Jewish diamond dealers in Amsterdam, Netherlands on 31 July 1883, immigrating to England with his family in 1888. He went on to study at the Central School of Arts and the London County Council School of Photo-engraving and Lithography at Bolt Court, where he met fellow etchers Edmund Blampied (whom his sister, Marianne, later married), Robert Charles Peter and John Nicolson. Abbé worked initially as a newspaper illustrator, later becoming a portraitist. In 1923 he was elected an Associate of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and was a member of the Royal Society of British Artists (RBA), as well as President of the London Sketch Club and a member of the Art Workers Guild. He was awarded a bronze medal at the Paris Salon in 1939. In 1928 he exhibited three drypoint etchings at the Royal Academy Exhibition, and in 1940 his portrait 'The Young Student' was praised by the critic of the Jewish Chronicle.
Abbé illustrated numerous books and designed book jackets for works including the first 'Saint' book by Leslie Charteris (Meet the Tiger, Ward Lock, 1928), The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie (William Collins, Sons, 1928) and the first two novels by Dorothy L. Sayers (T. Fisher Unwin). He also made etchings of court settings, occasionally using the pseudonym 'C. Morse'.
Salomon van Abbé died in London, England 28 February 1955. His work is in UK Collections including the Ben Uri Collection, the National Army Museum and the Royal Academy of Music.
