Gallery

Photographs, portraits, caricatures and illustrations from Wilde's lifetime. Every one is in the public domain, and each links to its record on Wikimedia Commons.

Portraits of Wilde

From Oxford in the 1870s to Rome in 1900, including the famous portraits Napoleon Sarony took in New York in 1882.

Oscar Wilde, seated, by Napoleon Sarony (1882) — Oscar Wilde, seated, by Napoleon Sarony (1882)Napoleon Sarony / Adam Cuerden, 1882. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Oscar Wilde by Napoleon Sarony, New York, January 1882 — Oscar Wilde by Napoleon Sarony, New York, January 1882Napoleon Sarony, 1882-01. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Oscar Wilde reclining with Poems, Sarony 1882 (LOC) — Oscar Wilde reclining with Poems, Sarony 1882 (LOC)Napoleon Sarony (Library of Congress, Miscellaneous Items in High Demand), 1882. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Oscar Wilde in cape and hat, Sarony 1882 — Oscar Wilde in cape and hat, Sarony 1882Napoleon Sarony, 1882. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Oscar Wilde, Sarony albumen print (Metropolitan Museum of Art) — Oscar Wilde, Sarony albumen print (Metropolitan Museum of Art)Napoleon Sarony, 1882. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Oscar Wilde, standing, Sarony 1882 (LOC LCCN 98519730) — Oscar Wilde, standing, Sarony 1882 (LOC LCCN 98519730)Napoleon Sarony, 1882. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Oscar Wilde with short hair, Sarony 1883 — Oscar Wilde with short hair, Sarony 1883Napoleon Sarony, 1883. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Oscar Wilde at Oxford, Hills & Saunders, 3 April 1876 — Oscar Wilde at Oxford, Hills & Saunders, 3 April 1876Hills & Saunders, Rugby & Oxford, Oxford, 3 April 1876. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Oscar Wilde in Greece, 1877 — Oscar Wilde in Greece, 1877Unknown author, 1877. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Oscar Wilde by Elliott & Fry, 19 March 1881 — Oscar Wilde by Elliott & Fry, 19 March 1881Elliott & Fry, 1881-03-19. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Oscar Wilde by W. & D. Downey, 23 May 1889 — Oscar Wilde by W. & D. Downey, 23 May 1889W. & D. Downey, 1889-05-23. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Oscar Wilde by Alfred Ellis & Walery, c. 1892 — Oscar Wilde by Alfred Ellis & Walery, c. 1892Alfred Ellis & Walery, circa 1892. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Oscar Wilde, 1894 (W. & D. Downey) — Oscar Wilde, 1894 (W. & D. Downey)W. & D. Downey (per Commons category; file page says unknown), 1894. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Oscar Wilde in Rome, April 1900 — Oscar Wilde in Rome, April 1900Unknown author, 1900. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Oscar Wilde by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (c. 1895-96) — Oscar Wilde by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (c. 1895-96)Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, c. 1895-96. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Family, friends and loves

His parents, his brother, his wife and sons, Lord Alfred Douglas and Robert Ross.

Oscar Wilde, Willie Wilde and J. E. C. Bodley at Oxford (1875) — Oscar Wilde, Willie Wilde and J. E. C. Bodley at Oxford (1875)Unknown author, 1875. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas in Naples, 1897 — Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas in Naples, 1897Unknown author, 1897. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Constance Lloyd, 1882 — Constance Lloyd, 1882W. K. Burton (1856-1899), 1882. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Constance Lloyd by W. & D. Downey (before 1884) — Constance Lloyd by W. & D. Downey (before 1884)W. & D. Downey (per file description), before 1884. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Constance Wilde with her son Cyril, 1889 — Constance Wilde with her son Cyril, 1889Unknown author, 1889. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Lord Alfred Douglas, 1894 — Lord Alfred Douglas, 1894Unknown author, 1894. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Lord Alfred Douglas by George Charles Beresford, 1903 — Lord Alfred Douglas by George Charles Beresford, 1903George Charles Beresford, 1903. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Sir William Wilde, lithograph after T. H. Maguire, 1847 — Sir William Wilde, lithograph after T. H. Maguire, 1847"J.H. Maguire" - more likely misprint for Thomas Herbert Maguire (1821-1895), 1847. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Lady Jane Wilde ('Speranza'), after Bernard Mulrenin, 1864 — Lady Jane Wilde ('Speranza'), after Bernard Mulrenin, 1864Bernard Mulrenin, 1864. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Lady Jane Wilde ('Speranza'), attributed to George Morosini — Lady Jane Wilde ('Speranza'), attributed to George Morosiniattributed to George Morosini (d.1913). Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Robert Ross, Elliott & Fry, 1911 — Robert Ross, Elliott & Fry, 1911Elliott & Fry, 1911. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Places

Dublin, Oxford, London, the prisons, and France, as they looked in his time.

Oscar Wilde at Magdalen College, Oxford (1870s) — Oscar Wilde at Magdalen College, Oxford (1870s)Unknown author, 1870s. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

No. 1 Merrion Square, Dublin, 1967 (National Library of Ireland) — No. 1 Merrion Square, Dublin, 1967 (National Library of Ireland)National Library of Ireland on The Commons, Taken in 1967. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

College Green and Trinity College Dublin, Photochrom c. 1890-1900 — College Green and Trinity College Dublin, Photochrom c. 1890-1900Photochrom Print Collection (Detroit Publishing Co.), Library of Congress, between 1890 and 1900. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Trinity College Dublin, late 19th century (Lawrence Collection) — Trinity College Dublin, late 19th century (Lawrence Collection)William Lawrence, 1900. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Magdalen College from the river, Oxford, Photochrom c. 1890-1900 — Magdalen College from the river, Oxford, Photochrom c. 1890-1900Photochrom Print Collection (Detroit Publishing Co.), Library of Congress, between 1890 and 1900. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Magdalen College, Founder's Tower and Cloisters, Photochrom c. 1890-1900 — Magdalen College, Founder's Tower and Cloisters, Photochrom c. 1890-1900Photochrom Print Collection (Detroit Publishing Co.), Library of Congress, between 1890 and 1900. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

The Café Royal, London, by William Orpen (1912) — The Café Royal, London, by William Orpen (1912)William Orpen, 1912. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Pentonville Prison, Illustrated London News, 13 August 1842 — Pentonville Prison, Illustrated London News, 13 August 1842Unknown artist, 13 August 1842. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

The New City Prison, Holloway (Illustrated London News, 5 Feb 1853) — The New City Prison, Holloway (Illustrated London News, 5 Feb 1853)Unknown artist, ILN Staff, 5 February 1853. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Reading Gaol, 1844 — Reading Gaol, 1844Unknown author, 1844. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Berneval-sur-Mer, c. 1900 — Berneval-sur-Mer, c. 1900Unknown author, 1900. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Entrance, Cimetière parisien de Bagneux — Entrance, Cimetière parisien de BagneuxManoSolo13241324, 2024-11-11 13:58:45. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

On stage

The first productions of the comedies, and the Paris Salome of 1896.

Winifred Emery as Lady Windermere, 1892 — Winifred Emery as Lady Windermere, 1892William H. Ward & Co., 1892. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

George Alexander and Rose Leclercq in The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895 — George Alexander and Rose Leclercq in The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895Unknown author, 1895. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Allan Aynesworth and F. Kinsey Peile in Earnest, 1895 (Alfred Ellis) — Allan Aynesworth and F. Kinsey Peile in Earnest, 1895 (Alfred Ellis)Alfred Ellis, 1895-03-20. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Playbill, The Importance of Being Earnest, St James's Theatre, 1895 — Playbill, The Importance of Being Earnest, St James's Theatre, 1895Unknown author, 1895. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Florence West as Mrs Cheveley in An Ideal Husband (The Sketch, 13 Feb 1895) — Florence West as Mrs Cheveley in An Ideal Husband (The Sketch, 13 Feb 1895)Hana, Strand - no individual credited, 1895-02-13. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Toulouse-Lautrec's programme for Salomé, Théâtre de l'Œuvre, 1896 — Toulouse-Lautrec's programme for Salomé, Théâtre de l'Œuvre, 1896Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (photo of the programme by Simon Speed), 1896. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Books and illustrations

Aubrey Beardsley's drawings for Salome, and the bindings Charles Ricketts designed for Wilde's books.

The Woman in the Moon: Beardsley frontispiece to Salomé (1894) — The Woman in the Moon: Beardsley frontispiece to Salomé (1894)Aubrey Beardsley, 1894. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

The Peacock Skirt: Beardsley, Salomé (1894) — The Peacock Skirt: Beardsley, Salomé (1894)Aubrey Beardsley, 1894. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

The Climax ('J'ai baisé ta bouche, Iokanaan'): Beardsley, Salomé (1894) — The Climax ('J'ai baisé ta bouche, Iokanaan'): Beardsley, Salomé (1894)Aubrey Beardsley, 1894. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Beardsley cover design for Salomé — Beardsley cover design for SaloméAubrey Beardsley (design), 1914. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Binding design for A House of Pomegranates (1891), Charles Ricketts — Binding design for A House of Pomegranates (1891), Charles RickettsCharles Ricketts, circa 1891. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

A House of Pomegranates illustration: Ricketts & Shannon — A House of Pomegranates illustration: Ricketts & ShannonOscar Wilde. Artwork by Charles Ricketts (1866-1931) & Charles Shannon (1863-1937), 1914. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Cover of Poems (1892 issue), designed by Charles Ricketts — Cover of Poems (1892 issue), designed by Charles RickettsCharles Ricketts (binding), 1892. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Caricatures

Wilde was the most caricatured man in London long before he was a famous writer.

Willie Wilde, caricature by Alfred Bryan, c. 1880 — Willie Wilde, caricature by Alfred Bryan, c. 1880Alfred Bryan, circa 1880. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

'Oscar Wilde at Work', caricature by Aubrey Beardsley — 'Oscar Wilde at Work', caricature by Aubrey BeardsleyAubrey Beardsley, c. 1894 (published 1914). Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

'O.W.': Punch caricature by Linley Sambourne, 25 June 1881 — 'O.W.': Punch caricature by Linley Sambourne, 25 June 1881Linley Sambourne, 1881-06-25. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

'Oscar Wilde': Vanity Fair caricature by Ape (Carlo Pellegrini), 1884 — 'Oscar Wilde': Vanity Fair caricature by Ape (Carlo Pellegrini), 1884Carlo Pellegrini, 1884. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

'The Modern Messiah': The Wasp (San Francisco), G. F. Keller, 31 March 1882 — 'The Modern Messiah': The Wasp (San Francisco), G. F. Keller, 31 March 1882George Frederick Keller, 1882-03-31. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Oscar Wilde, caricature by Alfred Bryan — Oscar Wilde, caricature by Alfred BryanAlfred Bryan, Unknown date. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Documents

The card that began the trials, and the name he lived under afterwards.

Oscar Wilde, Sarony cabinet card (Library of Congress LCCN 98519711) — Oscar Wilde, Sarony cabinet card (Library of Congress LCCN 98519711)Napoleon Sarony, 1882. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Newspaper notice: Oscar Wilde at Harper's Theatre, Rock Island, April 1882 — Newspaper notice: Oscar Wilde at Harper's Theatre, Rock Island, April 1882The Rock Island Argus, 1882-04-24. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

The Marquess of Queensberry's calling card, 18 February 1895 ('For Oscar Wilde posing somdomite') — The Marquess of Queensberry's calling card, 18 February 1895 ('For Oscar Wilde posing somdomite')John Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensberry, died 1900, card printed 1895 or before, written on 1895. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

The trial of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor: Illustrated Police News, 20 April 1895 — The trial of Oscar Wilde and Alfred Taylor: Illustrated Police News, 20 April 1895Illustrated Police News, a newspaper from the 19th century., 1895-04-20. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Wilde's visiting card as 'Sebastian Melmoth' (c. 1897) — Wilde's visiting card as 'Sebastian Melmoth' (c. 1897)Oscar Wilde, circa 1897. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons