The Magazine of Art

The Magazine of Art

Company type	Monthly magazine
Industry	Visual arts publishing
Founded	May 1878 (1878-05)
Defunct	July 1904 (1904-07)
Headquarters	London and New York City , United Kingdom, United States
Products	Magazine of art criticism, artist biographies, exhibition reviews
Owner	Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co.

The Magazine of Art was a British monthly publication dedicated to the visual arts, issued from May 1878 until July 1904 in both London and New York City by Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co. It included critiques of exhibitions, artist biographies, and articles covering diverse areas of visual art, enhanced by superior wood engravings created by prominent artists such as William Biscombe Gardner.

History

The origins of this magazine date back to May 1851 when the House of Cassell produced a publication related to The Great Exhibition. This initiative developed into The Illustrated Exhibitor and Magazine of Art in 1852, a weekly periodical designed to expand cultural knowledge. In 1853, it was retitled The Illustrated Magazine of Art, but due to poor commercial success, it was discontinued in 1854. A short-lived revival occurred during the 1862 International Exhibition, yet the magazine remained dormant until its reestablishment in 1878.

The inaugural issue of The Magazine of Art appeared on 25 April 1878, aligning with the Exposition Universelle in Paris. Arthur J. R. Trendell served as the first editor until 1880, succeeded by Eric Robertson (1880–81), William Ernest Henley (1881–86), Sidney Galpin (1886), and ultimately Marion Harry Spielmann (1886–1904), who concurrently edited The Pall Mall Gazette. Within a mere three years, the magazine earned a distinguished reputation for its incisive art criticism. A notable promotional poster was produced by artist Hubert Herkomer, illustrating the goddess of art surrounded by master painters.

As Cassell’s premier publication, the magazine catered to art collectors and enthusiasts alike, while upholding an independent editorial stance. Among its contributors was William W. Fenn, a blind artist who wrote widely read reviews with support from his wife.

During W. E. Henley’s leadership (1881–86), the publication was transformed into an engaging international arts review that shaped public artistic preferences. He attracted esteemed contributors like R. L. Stevenson, Richard Jefferies, and J. Comyns Carr, improved the standard of engravings, and incorporated poetry into its content.

Under M. H. Spielmann’s extensive editorship spanning 17 years (1886–1904), contributions came from distinguished artists and critics including John Ruskin. In 1888, the magazine introduced a supplement named Royal Academy Pictures, showcasing reproductions from the annual exhibitions held at London’s Royal Academy. Despite its significant cultural influence, financial challenges led to the magazine’s closure in 1904; nonetheless, Royal Academy Pictures persisted until 1916.

Further reading

Accessible online editions of The Magazine of Art volumes include:

• The Magazine of Art Gift Book Illustrated, Volumes I & II (undated)
• Volume 5 (Nov 1881–Oct 1882)
• Volume 6 (Nov 1882–Oct 1883)
• Volume 7 (Nov 1883–Oct 1884)
• Volume 8 (Nov 1884–Oct 1885)
• Volume 9 (Nov 1885–Oct 1886)
• Volume 10 (Nov 1886–Oct 1887)
• Volume 11 (Nov 1887–Oct 1888)
• Volume 12 (Nov 1888–Oct 1889)
• Volume 13 (Nov 1889–Oct 1890)
• Volume 15 (Nov 1891–Oct 1892)
• Volume 16 (Nov 1892–Oct 1893)
• Volume 17 (Nov 1893–Oct 1894)
• Volume 20 (Nov 1896–Apr 1897)
• Volume 21.1 (May 1897)
• Volume 21.2 (Jun 1897)
• Volume 22 (Nov 1897–Oct 1898)
• Volume 23.6 (Apr 1899)
• Volume 23.7 (May 1899)
• Volume 23.8 (May 1899)
• Volume 23.10 (Jun 1899)

External links

• Depictions of Queen Victoria featured in The Magazine of Art (Bedfordshire Libraries)