Solomon Joseph Solomon: An Octave for Mr Ernest Hart at Sir Henry Thompson's house (1893)

(Wellcome Library, London, UK)

Painting by the British artist Solomon Joseph Solomon (1860-1927). An octave was a dinner party held by Sir Henry Thompson (1820–1904), Professor of Surgery at University College, London, at his house 35 Wimpole Street, London, at which 8 courses, accompanied by 8 wines, were served at 8 o'clock to 8 guests in addition to the host and the guest of honour. The guest of honour here, seated to the right of the mantelpiece, was Ernest Hart, Editor of the British Medical Journal. The other guests are all senior members of the British surgical and medical professions. Painting from 1893.