Edmund Mills Hann (1850–1931)

Edmund Mills Hann was a Welsh solicitor and civic figure whose portrait was executed by Solomon Joseph Solomon in 1920 on millboard rather than canvas — a choice that suggests either a smaller-scale commission or a preparatory work. Millboard was a common support for oil sketches and smaller portraits in late Victorian and Edwardian practice, offering a firm, smooth surface that allowed precise detail without the tooth of canvas. Solomon's willingness to work on this format indicates his adaptability across different commission types. The National Museum Cardiff's holding of the portrait reflects the institution's sustained interest in documenting Welsh professional and civic life during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Hann lived to 81, and a 1920 portrait would capture him in late life — an opportunity for Solomon to demonstrate his well-regarded ability to find dignity and character in elderly sitters.

Millboard as a support absorbs oil paint differently from canvas, allowing a tighter, more compact surface with less texture. Solomon's technique on this support would favour clean, direct brushwork over the layered glazing more suited to large-format canvas portraits.