Over the course of 1895, newspapers around the world illustrated key figures
and scenes to tell the story of Oscar Wilde’s three criminal trials and imprisonment. A selection of these images can be found in this gallery.
Aberdeen Weekly Journal April 6 1895
Illustration of Oscar Wilde in the Aberdeen Weekly Journal.
The Bird O'Freedom October 5 1895
“A Sprig of Aristocracy from the Queensberry Stock,” Illustration of Lord Sholto Douglas in
Sydney’s The Bird O’Freedom.
The Boston Globe April 4 1895
Illustration of Oscar Wilde in The Boston Globe, based on one of the cabinet
portraits of Wilde taken in 1892 by Alfred Ellis & Walery Studio, London, UK.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle April 3 1895
Illustration of Oscar Wilde in The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, based on one of the cabinet
portraits of Wilde taken in 1892 by Alfred Ellis & Walery Studio, London, UK.
The Chicago Chronicle May 30 1895
"Prison Costume of Oscar Wilde." Illustration from The Chicago Chronicle of British
prison garb marked with the broad arrow.
The Chicago Chronicle June 9 1895
"Treadmill in an English Prison." Illustration from The Chicago Chronicle of British
prisoners walking the prison treadmill and picking oakum.
The Chicago Eagle July 6 1895
"Treadmill at Pentonville." Illustration from The Chicago Eagle of British prisoners
walking the prison treadmill and picking oakum.
The Chicago Tribune June 23 1895
"Wilde Serving His Sentence." Illustration from The Chicago Tribune of Oscar Wilde
undertaking hard labour in a British prison.
The Daily Telegraph April 8 1895
Illustration of Oscar Wilde in Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph, based on Napoleon Sarony’s
studio photographs of Wilde taken in New York City in 1882.
L'Echo de Paris December 31 1895
Caricature of Oscar Wilde in L'Echo de Paris.
L’Eclaireur de Nice May 23 1895
Illustration of Oscar Wilde in L’Eclaireur de Nice, based on one of the cabinet
portraits of Wilde taken in 1892 by Alfred Ellis & Walery Studio, London, UK.
Edgefield Advertiser July 24 1895
"A Treadmill in an English Prison." Illustration from the Edgefield Advertiser of British prisoners
walking the prison treadmill and picking oakum.
The Evening Journal April 10 1895
Illustration of Oscar Wilde with cigarette, cane, and fur overcoat in Adelaide’s The Evening
Journal.
The Evening News April 6 1895
Illustration of Oscar Wilde in Sydney’s The Evening News, based on portraits of Wilde
taken in 1892 by Alfred Ellis & Walery Studio, London, UK.
El Heraldo de Madrid April 6 1895
Illustration of Oscar Wilde in El Heraldo de Madrid, based on one of the cabinet
portraits of Wilde taken in 1892 by Alfred Ellis & Walery Studio, London, UK.
El Heraldo de Madrid April 6 1895
Illustration of the Marquis of Queensberry in El Heraldo de Madrid, based on the
portrait taken by Benjamin J. Falk at his photography studio in New York City.
The Illustrated Police News April 6 1895
Portraits of Oscar Wilde and the Marquis of Queensberry in London’s The Illustrated Police
News.
The Illustrated Police News June 1 1895
Illustration in London’s The Illustrated Police News of the Piccadilly street fight that
took place on May 21 between the Marquis of Queensberry and his eldest son, Lord Douglas of
Hawick. Many newspapers confused the two sons, assuming the father had fought with Lord
Alfred Douglas.
La Lanterne May 2 1895
Cartoons on the Wilde trials printed in the Parisian newspaper La Lanterne. The
panel on the left switches the protective vine leaves from front to back, alluding to
allegations of sodomy during the trials. The panel on the right puns on the name of Wilde’s
co-defendant, Alfred Taylor, depicting a young man named Oscar being booted when he admits
to being friends with an English tailor.
Los Angeles Herald May 26 1895
Illustration of Oscar Wilde in the Los Angeles Herald, based on one of the cabinet
portraits of Wilde taken in 1892 by Alfred Ellis & Walery Studio, London, UK.
Los Angeles Herald June 23 1895
"On the Treadmill." Illustration from the Los Angeles Herald of Oscar Wilde walking
the treadmill with other prisoners.
National Police Gazette June 15 1895
Illustrations from New York City's The National Police Gazette contrasting Oscar Wilde's life before prison and after prison.
The New York Herald (European Edition) April 4 1895
Signed illustration of Oscar Wilde in The New York Herald (European edition) based
on one of the cabinet portraits of Wilde taken in 1892 by Alfred Ellis & Walery Studio,
London, UK.
The New York Herald (European Edition) April 4 1895
Illustration in The New York Herald (European edition) of the Marquis of
Queensberry, based on the portrait taken by Benjamin J. Falk at his photography studio in
New York City.
The New York Herald (European Edition) April 7 1895
Illustration of Oscar Wilde in The New York Herald (European edition) at London’s
Bow Street Magistrates’ Court after his arrest.
The Philadelphia Inquirer April 8 1895
Illustration of Constance Wilde (née Lloyd) in The Philadelphia Inquirer, based on a
photograph of her around 1891 by Kingsbury & Notcutt, London, UK.
The Philadelphia Times April 7 1895
Illustration of the Marquis of Queensberry in The Philadelphia Times.
La Presse April 9 1895
Illustration of Oscar Wilde in the Parisian newspaper La Presse, based on one of the
cabinet portraits of Wilde taken in 1892 by Alfred Ellis & Walery Studio, London,
UK.
Le Quotidien Illustre June 7 1895
Illustration in the Parisian newspaper Le Quotidien Illustre of Wilde walking the
treadmill in a British prison.
The San Francisco Chronicle April 7 1895
Illustration of Oscar Wilde in The San Francisco Chronicle, based on one of the cabinet
portraits of Wilde taken in 1892 by Alfred Ellis & Walery Studio, London, UK.
The San Francisco Chronicle May 6 1895
Illustration of Lord Sholto Douglas in The San Francisco Chronicle.
The San Francisco Examiner June 3 1895
"As Wilde appeared to Queensberry." Illustration in The San Francisco Examiner based on
an interview with Queensberry reported in The Paris Herald.
The San Francisco Examiner June 9 1895
"Oscar Wilde in Prison Garb." Illustration from The San Francisco Examiner.
The San Francisco Examiner June 29 1895
"Oscar Wilde on the Treadmill." Illustration of Wilde walking the treadmill from The San
Francisco Examiner, based on the illustration published in Le Quotidien
Illustré.
The South Australian Chronicle March 9 1895
Illustration of Oscar Wilde in Adelaide’s The South Australian Chronicle
The South Australian Chronicle March 23 1895
Illustration of the Marquis of Queensberry in Adelaide’s The South Australian Chronicle,
based on the portrait taken by Benjamin J. Falk at his photography studio in New York
City.
The Weekly Times April 13 1895
Illustration of Oscar Wilde in Melbourne’s The Weekly Times, based on one of the cabinet
portraits of Wilde taken in 1892 by Alfred Ellis & Walery Studio, London, UK.
The Weekly Times April 13 1895
Illustration of the Marquis of Queensberry in Melbourne’s The Weekly Times, based on the
portrait taken by Benjamin J. Falk at his photography studio in New York City.
Western Mail April 6 1895
Signed illustration of Oscar Wilde in Perth’s Western Mail.