Frederic Dorr Steele illustrator, Sherlock Holmes illustrations

Frederic Dorr Steele (1873-1944) was an American graphic artist. His most renowned artworks are the Holmes drawings which appeared in Collier’s Magazine. Among Steele’s ancestors was the legendary governor William Bradford, to whom the USA owes the celebration of Thanksgiving.

Steele’s drawings resemble to those of Sidney Paget. (The first illustrator who drew Sherlock Holmes: Sidney Paget) The picture he made for The Norwood Builder is not absolutely accurate, as he depicts a mark of a palm instead of a fingerprint, and what is more, Holmes observes it wearing a dressing gown – while in the novel he travels to Norwood to find the trace.

But Steele was undisputedly a gorgeous artist, and fans of the detective like his and Paget’s illustrations the most. We think that they both were brilliantly talented and we are lucky to enjoy their works. Frederic portrayed mostly American actor William Gillette as Holmes. Steele was often invited to Sherlockian events, which he attended gladly. Frederic was a pipe smoker, just like Conan Doyle or his famous creation, Sherlock Holmes

Illustrator Frederic Dorr Steele