Sydney Adamson was born in Dundee, Scotland. The brother of the illustrator Penrhyn Stanlaw, Adamson also worked as an illustrator for most of the major periodicals in both London and New York from the 1890's through World War I. He designed a book cover for The Idler in 1895, and exhibited paintings in the Royal Academy in London, in 1908, and at Liverpool in 1914, by which time he was residing in Paris. In 1906 he was living in New York City, according to the records of the National Academy of Design, which exhibited his Soldier's Service in St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh, in that year.

Among the American periodicals for which Adamson produced illustrations were Leslie's Weekly, The Century, Harper's Monthly, Scribner's, Collier's and the Saturday Evening Post. On assignment from Leslie's, he accompanied American troops in the Phillipines and China between 1899 and 1900.

We are greatful to Dr. Bruce W. Chambers for his assistance in cataloging this entry.