The enduring visual identity of Sherlock Holmes originated with 356 drawings created for The Strand Magazine between 1891 and 1904. Sidney Paget, an English painter and illustrator, established the detective’s appearance by introducing the iconic deerstalker cap and Inverness cape, elements never explicitly described in the original texts by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Early Life and Education
Born in London in 1860, Sidney Edward Paget was the fifth of nine children. His father, Robert Paget, served as the vestry clerk of St. James and St. John in Clerkenwell, while his mother, Martha, worked as a music professor. In 1881, he enrolled at the Royal Academy Schools, where he developed his craft and befriended Alfred Morris Butler. During his academic career and beyond, Paget maintained a presence in the fine arts, contributing eighteen paintings, including nine portraits, to Royal Academy exhibitions between 1879 and 1905.
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Beyond his association with Sherlock Holmes, Paget provided illustrations for various publications including The Illustrated London News, The Pall Mall Magazine, The Graphic, and The Sphere. He also illustrated Arthur Morrison’s Martin Hewitt detective stories. His professional contributions extended to a wide range of literary works, earning him recognition across the United Kingdom and the United States. Two of his brothers, Henry Marriott Paget and Walter Stanley Paget, were also established illustrators and portraitists.
The Holmes Legacy
Paget’s collaboration with Conan Doyle began with the twelve-part series The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. His role grew significantly, resulting in commissions for The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and The Return of Sherlock Holmes. By 1893, his work in The Strand Magazine frequently included full-page illustrations. The artist's 1904 depiction of the confrontation at the Reichenbach Falls remains a high-value piece, selling at Sotheby’s for $220,800 in 2004.
Final Years
Paget married Edith Hounsfield on 1 June 1893, and the couple had six children: Leslie Robert, Winifred, Edith Muriel, Evelyn Mereoah, Beryl May, and John L. Paget. In his final years, Paget suffered from a chest condition that resulted in his death in Margate on 28 January 1908 at age 47. His death certificate identified the cause as a mediastinal tumour. He was buried at East Finchley Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1860, London
- Died: 28 January 1908, Margate
- Education: Royal Academy of Arts
- Total Holmes drawings: 356
- Spouse: Edith Hounsfield
- Burial place: East Finchley Cemetery
- Cause of death: Mediastinal tumour
Questions readers ask
Did Paget model Sherlock Holmes on his brother?
While this is a commonly held belief, it was denied by his brother Henry Marriott Paget.
Did Paget accidentally get the commission for the Sherlock Holmes stories?
A 2019 study published in the Baker Street Journal found no evidence for the claim that Paget was hired in place of his brother Walter.
