SHERLOCK HOLMES

Oil on panel, 24” x 30”

Unframed

$13,500.

Please contact us for more information about this available original oil painting. We are also happy to discuss layaway options.

AVAILABLE AS A STUDIO PRINT IN 3 SIZES!   

WHILE READING A NUMBER OF SHERLOCK HOLMES STORIES RECENTLY, I REALIZED HOW MUCH I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO A PORTRAIT OF THE GREAT DETECTIVE…

In the story of “The Man with the Twisted Lip,” I came across a passage that I thought would make a great setting for such a portrait. While working on the case, Holmes and Watson are spending the night at the Cedars, the home of their client, Mrs. St. Clair. As Watson prepares for bed, he observes Holmes gathering pillows and cushions from the furniture around the room and then collecting them in one large pile, that he arranges into a “sort of Eastern divan.” There, he settles himself, along with his briar pipe, matches, and tobacco, which in this story Doyle refers to simply as an “ounce of shag,” but from other accounts we know that Holmes had a peculiar habit of storing his tobacco in a Persian slipper, so I’ve taken the liberty to include that here. 

As he drifts off to sleep, the last image the good doctor sees is that of Holmes reclining cross-legged on the pillows, smoking his pipe and staring intently into space, surrounded by the curling, blue smoke of his pipe. The next morning, when Watson opens his eyes, he sees that Holmes has hardly stirred and has remained nearly motionless - apparently having contemplated the case all night long. --SG