Illustrations of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories by Sidney Paget

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Sidney Edward Paget (1860-1908) was the son of a vestry clerk of Clerkenwell, in the heart of London. Like two of his brothers (see for example our introduction to Walter Paget), he took up a career in art, and entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1881. He had already exhibited at the Royal Academy, and proceeded to win various awards at the Schools. He continued to exhibit his paintings at the Academy until 1905, half of them being portraits (see Pottle). However, as J. D. Milner wrote originally in the 1912 supplement to the Dictionary of National Biography:

It was as an illustrator that Paget won a wide reputation. His vigorous work as a black-and-white artist became well known not only in the United Kingdom but also in America and the colonies, by his drawings for the Pictorial World (1882), the Sphere, and for many of Cassell's publications. He also drew occasionally for the Graphic, the Illustrated London News, and the Pall Mall Magazine. Paget's spirited illustrations for Sir A. Conan Doyle's "Sherlock Holmes" and "Rodney Stone" in the Strand Magazine greatly assisted to popularise those stories. The assertion that the artist's brother Walter, or any other person, served as model for the portrait of "Sherlock Holmes" is incorrect.

Doyle's references to Holmes in his "grey travelling cloak and close-fitting cloth cap" in "The Boscombe Valley Mystery," and to his "ear-flapped travelling-cap" in "The Adventure of Silver Blaze," gave Paget the clue to the costume in which he depicted the famous detective on those occasions, and which, of course, "became his trademark" (Klinger 104, n. 10). See Paget's very similar illustrations for "We had the carriage to ourselves" in "The Boscombe Valley Adventure," and "Holmes gave me a sketch of the events" in "The Adventure of Silver Blaze." — Jacqueline Banerjee

Related Material

• Sidney Paget, the Artist Who Illustrated the Sherlock Holmes Stories (more details about his life and work)
• Q Battery, RHA at Koon Spruit (Boer War drawing by Paget)
• Notice of a Sidney Paget exhibition of 2007-08
• Walter Paget (1863-1935) (one of Paget's brothers)

Themes and motifs in the Sherlock Holmes illustrations

• Paget's representations of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson together
• The disguises of Sherlock Holmes according to Sidney Paget
• Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, and railways -- according to Sidney Paget

Works

The images on the plates listed below come from the out-of-copyright Internet Archive online version of The Original Illustrated Sherlock Holmes, which reprints the pages of the stories and images from the 1890-91 Strand Magazine. The text quoted in the “Passage illustrated“ section of each document has been taken from the Project Gutenberg The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes produced by Angela M. Cable, and David Widger. —  George P. Landow.

“A Scandal in Bohemia” Then he stood before the fire I carefully examined the writing A man entered He tore the mask from his face A drunken-looking groom I found myself mumbling responses A simple-minded clergyman He gave a cry and dropped Good-night, Mr. Sherlock Holmes This photograph! “The Red-Headed League” Mr. Jabez Wilson What on earth does this mean? The League has a vacancy He congratulated me warmly The door was shut and locked He curled himself up in his chair The door was instantly opened All afternoon he sat in the stalls Merryweather stopped to light a lantern It's no use, John Clay “A Case of Identity” Sherlock Holmes welcomed her At the Gasfitters' Ball There was no one there She laid a little bundle upon the table I found Sherlock Holmes half asleep Glancing around him like a rat in a trap He took two swift steps with the whip “The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet” I took the precious case Oh, any old key with open that bureau At my cry he dropped it She went straight to her uncle Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's eyes Dressed as a common loafer Arthur caught him I clapped a pistol to his head “The Adventure of the Copper Beeches” Taking up a glowing cinder with the tongs Capital Holmes shook his head gravely I am so delighted that you have come I read for about ten minutes I took it up and examined it “Oh! I am so frightened!” I panted “You villian!” said he. “Where's your daughter?” Running up, I blew its brains out “The Adventure of Silver Blaze” Holmes gave me a sketch of the events A man appeared out of the darkness The found the dead body of the unfortunate trainer I am delighted that you have come down, Mr. Holmes “Have you found them?“ she panted “Be off!” Holmes was extremely pleased He laid his hand on the glossy neck Silver Blaze “The Adventure of the Cardboard Box” Miss Cushing He examined them minutely How far to Wallington? Jim Browner He held out his hands quietly “That's all right, My lass“ said I Untitled [“It was just as if they had been given into my hands“] “The Adventure of the Yellow Face” He held it up Our visitor sprang from his chair “What may you be wantin'?” “Trust me, Jack,” she cried “Tell me everything,” said I There was a little coal-black negress He lifted the little girl “The Boscombe Valley Mystery” We had the carriage to ourselves They found the body I held him in my arms Lestrade shrugged his shoulders I tied to interest myself in a yellow-backed novel The maid showed us the boots For a long time he remained there He had stood behind that tree “Mr. John Turner,” said the waiter “Farewell, then,” said the old man “The Five Orange Pips” He looked about him anxiously We found him face downward in a little green scummed pool What does this mean? Shook out five little dried orange pips His eyes bent upon the glow of the fire Holmes,” I cried. “You are too late” “The Man with the Twisted Lip” Staring into the fire “Holmes!” I whispered He flicked the horse with his whip At the foot of the stairs she met this Lascar scoundrel Stuffs all the coins into the pockets “Frankly, now!” she repeated The pipe was still between his lips He took out a very large bath sponge “The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle” A very seedy felt hat The roughs had fled at the appearance of Peterson See what my wife found in its crop He bowed solemnly to both of us Just read it out to me You are the very man “Have mercy” he shrieked He burst into convulsive sobbing “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” She raised her veil He hurled the blacksmith over a parapet Her face blanched with terror “Which of you is Holmes?” We got off, paid our fare Well, look at this “Good-bye, and be brave” Holmes lashed furiously He made neither sound nor motion “The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb” He unwound the handkerchief, and held out his hand He settled our new acquaintance on the sofa Colonel Lysander Stark Not a word to a soul! “Get away from here before it's too late” I rushed to the door He cut at me A house on fire? “The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor” He broke the seal and glanced over the contents She was ejected by the butler and the footman Lord Robert St. Simon The gentleman in the pew handed it to her “There,”s said he A picture of offended dignity Some woman came talking about Lord Simon “I wish you all a very good night“ “The Adventure of the Stockbroker's Clerk” “Nothing could be better,” said Holmes “Mr. Hall Pycroft, I believe,” said he Up came a man and addressed me He looked up at us We found ourselves in the inner room Pycroft shook his clenched hands in the air Glancing at the haggard figure

“The Adventure of the ‘Gloria Scott’” Trevor used to come in and inquire after me Hudson it is, Sir,” said the seaman “I've not had my 'pology,” said he, sulkily The key of the riddle was in my hand Jack Pendergast The chaplain stood with a smoking pistol in his hand We pulled him board the boat “The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual” A curious collection Reginald Musgrave He sprang to his feet It has a girth of twenty-three fee This was the place indicated It was the figure of a man “The Reigate Puzzle” I held up a warning finger Inspector Forrester Holmes took up a piece of paper, a facsimile of which is here reproduced “Good heavens! What is the matter?” He deliberately knocked the whole thing over Bending over the prostrate body of Sherlock Holmes The point is a simple one There was no powder blackening on the clothes [The note after Holmes pieces it together] “The Adventure of the Crooked Man” I'll fill a vacant peg, then The coachman rushed to the door What do you make of that? It's Nancy Mr. Henry Wood, I believe? I walked right into six of them “It was quite a simple case after all” “The Adventure of the Resident Patient” I stared at him in astonishment Helped him to a chair He burst into my consulting room In his hand he held a pistol Holmes opened it and smelled the single cigar which it contained “You have got them!” we cried “The Adventure of the Greek Interpreter” Holmes pulled out his watch Mycroft Holmes He drew up the windows I thrilled with horror “Sophy! Sophy!” I saw someone coming towards me “Come in,” said blandly “It's charcoal,” he cried “The Adventure of the Naval Treaty” Holmes was working hard over a chemical investigation “Then take the treaty” Fast asleep in his box “Here is a rough chart of the place” “Why, if it isn't Mr. Phelps” What a lovely thing a rose is The view was sordid enough “I've heard of your methods before now,” Mr, Holmes “I won't waste your time” said he A nobleman “Any news?” he asked Holmes examined it critically "I hardly expect to go back to Briarbrae” Phelps raised the cover Joseph Harrison stepped out “Is there any other point which I can make clear?” “The Adventure of the Final Problem” The Death of Sherlock Holmes Two of his knuckles were burst and bleeding “Professor Moriarty stood before me” “He turned his rounded back upon me” My decrepit Italian friend It passed with a rattle and a roar A large rock clattered down I saw Holmes gazing down at the rush of the waters A small square of paper fluttered down “The Adventure of the Empty House” He seized Homes by the throat I knocked down several books that he was carrying Sherlock Holmes was standing smiling at me across my study desk I crept forward and looked at the familiar window The light of the street fell upon his face Colonel Moran sprang forward, with a snarl of rage “My collection of M's is a fine one,” said he “The Adventure of the Norwood Builder” A little, wizened man darted out A wild-eyed and frantic young man burst into the room The wretched young man arose “My first movement, Watson,” said he, “must be in the direction of Blackheath” “He sent it to me in that state, with a curse, on my wedding morning” “Look at that with your magnifying glass, Mr. Holmes” Holmes smiled and clapped Lestrade upon the shoulder “The Adventure of the Dancing Men” Holmes clapped a pistol to his head and Martin slipped the handcuffs over his wrists Holmes held up the paper [Row of dancing men cyphers] My wife threw her arms round me “I suppose you are the detectives from London?” said he They both remembered that they were conscious of the smell of powder He bent forward and picked up a little brazen cylinder A reproduction of a page from the “Strand Magazine“ He buried his face in his manacled hands “The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist” He spun around with a scream and fell upon his back My friend took the lady's ungloved hand and examined it “I slowed down my machine” “A straight left against a slogging ruffian” “Too late, Watson! Too late!” cried Holmes As we approached, the lady staggered against the trunk of the tree Holmes tossed the end of the cigarette into the grate “The Adventure of the Priory School” heard him chuckle as the light fell upon a patched Dunlop tire The heavy white face was seamed with lines of trouble “What is the theory in your mind?” Beside him stood a very young man Sketch map showing the locality An impression like a fine bundle of telegraph wires ran down the centre of it There lay the unfortunate rider With difficulty he limped up to the door The man flew past us on the road The murderer has escaped “The Adventure of Black Peter” He sank down upon the sea-chest, and looked helplessly from one of us to the other “Good gracious, Holmes!” I cried. “You don't mean to say that you've been walking about London with that thing?” Holmes examined it in his minute way “Someone has been tampering with it,” he said. He rapidly turned over the leaves of this volume “Shall I sign here?” he asked. “We sat down and we drank and we yarned about old times.” “The Hound of the Baskervilles” Sitemap for 58 plates

Bibliography

Doyle, Arthur Conan. The Original Illustrated Sherlock Holmes. “Reproduced from the original publication in The Strand Magazine with the classic illustrations by Sidney Paget.“ Edison, New Jersey: Castle Books, [after 1954]. Internet Archive version of a copy donated by Friends of the San Francisco Library. Web.

Klinger, Leslie S., ed. The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Short Stories. New York and London: Norton, 2005.

Milner, J. D., rev. Mark Pottle. "Paget, Sidney (1860-1908)." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (contains link to Milner's orginal entry). Online ed.

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Last modified 24 October 2016