Arthur Conan Doyle by Herbert Rose Barraud

1893

This distinguished photograph, taken in 1893 by famed portraitist Herbert Rose Barraud, captures the Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle at a pivotal moment in his career.

By this time, Doyle had already created one of literature’s most iconic characters — Sherlock Holmes — and was enjoying widespread popularity. The year 1893 was particularly significant: it was when he killed off Holmes in "The Final Problem," intending to focus on more serious literary work. The public outrage was so intense that he would later be forced to resurrect the detective.

Dressed in a fine three-piece tweed suit and posed with composed gravity, Doyle exudes the intelligence and introspection of a man who was not only a brilliant storyteller but also a trained doctor, spiritualist, and social commentator.

🕯️ Notable works by 1893:

A Study in Scarlet (1887)

The Sign of Four (1890)

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892)

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1893)

📸 Photographer: Herbert Rose Barraud – known for elegant cabinet portraits of leading Victorian figures.

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