The Pall Mall Magazine February 1899 Cover – Edward F Skinner

The Pall Mall Magazine February 1899 Cover – Edward F Skinner In the late 1800s, Charing Cross Road, London wasn’t the book haven we know today. It was a bustling artery slicing through the heart of London, a vibrant mix of commerce, entertainment, and the grittier side of city life. In the heart of London. The sounds of horse-drawn carriages and early motorcars vying for space with throngs of pedestrians, all enveloped in the thick fog and gaslights gleamed on the cobbled streets of Westminster. Based at 18, Charing Cross Road were the Editorial and Publishing Offices of a new sophisticated literary magazine known as The Pall Mall Magazine. The Pall Mall Magazine was a monthly British literary journal founded by William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor. The magazine started as an offshoot of the London-based evening newspaper, the Pall Mall Gazette. Gracing British bookshelves from 1893 to 1914, The Pall Mall Magazine, captivated readers with a vibrant mix of poetry, short stories, essays, and stunning late Pre-Raphaelite artwork. Unlike its rivals, this monthly gem boasted illustrations rivaling the finest American periodicals, making it a true pioneer in British publishing. The literary gem was often compared to its rival journal The Strand Magazine. In fact, many artists including illustrator Sidney Paget and author H.G. Wells submitted work to both. From its inception, and throughout its existence, The Pall Mall Magazine served as a platform for artistic luminaries. Its pages were graced with the works of renowned illustrators such as George Morrow and Edmund Sullivan, the evocative poetry of Algenon Swinburne and Rudyard Kipling, and captivating tales woven by authors like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Jack London and Joseph Conrad. Notably, Conrad’s “Typhoon” first saw print within its pages. Behind the scenes, esteemed editors like Straight, Hamilton, Halkett, and Morley steered the magazine’s trajectory. This Pall Mall Magazine poster has been created from Pall Mall Magazine’s February 1899 issue and features a superb image painted by Edward F Skinner, a painter and illustrator born in Lewes, Sussex. He was mainly known for his portrait paintings. The cover features a superb pre-Raphaelite-style image of a beautiful, red-headed woman wearing robes that have fallen to reveal her bare breasts. The paint palette and brushes lying on the outdoor bath suggest she is an artist herself. The painting was reused as the stock cover of the magazine with the titles of the issue’s prominent articles being overprinted each month. This cover informs the viewer that the magazine features an interview with Lady Delise (wife of the Baron of De L’Isle) on an article about the magnificent 14th-century Manor House in Kent known as Penshurt Place. The House was built in 1341 for Sir John de Pulteney, a London merchant, who had been made Mayor on four occasions. In 1552, the house became the property of the state following the arrest, trial, and execution of Henry VIII’s first cousin once removed, Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham. King Henry VIII, left it to his son King Edward VI. Edward, in turn, granted the house to Sir William Sidney in 1552, who had been an Esquire of the Body and a Courtier to both Kings. The property has remained in the Sidney family for more than 460 years since. The artist’s signature “E. F. Skinner.” can be seen in the bottom left of the image, with the name of the printer “J.S. Virtue & Co., Ld. Litho., City Road” bottom right.  The text on the marble column reads, Lady Delisle on Penshurst and its Memories. The Fortifications of Paris. Price Twenty-Five Cents.”