"He Tore the Mask From His Face"

"He Tore the Mask From His Face"

Illustration from "A Scandal in Bohemia"

This illustration served as one of ten to accompany the original publication of "A Scandal in Bohemia" in The Strand Magazine in July 1891. The artist, Sydney Paget, would go on to illustrate 38 of the 56 Sherlock Holmes stories crafted by Conan Doyle. This image in particular depicts the moment in which the King of Bohemia removes the vizard mask he had been using to hide his identity whilst soliciting the work of Sherlock Holmes, and reveals his true identity to the detective (who, in the truest Sherlock Holmes fashion, had already deduced the King's true self). Paget's attention to the details of the King's extravagant clothing, equally noted by Conan Doyle in his text, assist the reader in visualizing what Holmes is seeing in his scrutiny of the character. Particularly through the rich nature of the character's fur and the large gemstone adorning his jacket might the audience also come to Holmes' conclusion that the masked stranger is of greater importance than he initially lets on.

Sidney Paget

Hathi Trust

The Strand Magazine

July 1891

Princeton University Library

Digital reproduction of pencil on paper

Illustration