Hillman, David
David Hillman (1894-1974) was a prolific Anglo-Jewish artist who understood the deep connection between art and religion. His work is to be found in a number of London Synagogues.
He was descended from an exceptionally distinguished line of East European Rabbis and combined his own religious studies with his art training at art school. In 1908, aged 14, he gained a scholarship to the newly completed Charles Rennie Mackintosh Glasgow School of Art, and after the family moved to London, he studied briefly at the St John’s Wood Art School, and then aged 21, at the Royal Academy Schools.
Following his marriage in 1928 he moved to a house in West Hampstead, where he raised the roof to build a studio with a large north facing window. The studio allowed him to paint, stain and fire at least some of his windows, but others where made in conjunction with Lowndes and Drury, and Joseph E Nuttgens.
His windows are rich and visually engaging, and have a distinctive style that makes them instantly recognisable. All of his windows include a wide range of biblical and scriptural verses and quotations, displaying his deep knowledge of Jewish source material.
His work is to be found in a number of London Synagogues.
Sources:
Source: An Appreciation of David Hillman’s UK synagogue stained glass windows on the Jewish Heritage Website
The 100 Best Stained Glass Sites in London by Caroline Swash, Malvern Arts Press, 2015
