The Art of Frederic Dorr Steele
To be added:
Link to the University of Minnesota Special Collection
Theatre Illustrations – Gallery
Library of Congress – Cabinet of American Illustration
The Complete Steele Portfolio
Under the leadership of editor Mike McSwiggin, we have begun a project to produce a book that will bring together every Sherlock Holmes illustration by Frederic Dorr Steele for the first time. Steele created more than 165 drawings of Holmes’s cases from 1903 until his death in 1944. The Complete Steele Portfolio, projected for publication in 2027, will reproduce Steele’s drawings from the surviving original artwork when possible, and from the publications where they first appeared. The book will be published and sold by the Gasogene Press, publishers of The Complete Paget Portfolio.
Why Steele?
Steele’s life and work provides a unique perspective on the golden age of illustration. Steele is important because his iconic profile of Holmes influenced the work of other artists and the portrayal of the character in popular culture and on the screen. Collectors pursued his work during his lifetime because it delighted readers. Thanks to decades of research by FDSMI board member Andrew Malec, we know much about the passage of Steele’s original art as it was acquired by collectors and institutions that include the Library of Congress.
Steele was a popular figure in the news columns and arts community of New York of his day. His essays on art and artists informed and educated readers. He wrote about the work of illustration and its challenges, and his published memories of authors, artists and editors help preserve the history of the golden age of illustration.
Do you have original art by Frederic Dorr Steele in your collection? Let Mike know confidentially by email to fdsportfolio@gmail.com.