Skip to content
228,584 profiles ranked

Virgil Finlay

American pulp fantasy, science fiction and horror illustrator (1914-1971) · United States · On the map · Artists · Died at 56

Virgil Finlay was an American pulp fantasy, science fiction and horror illustrator. He has been called "part of the pulp magazine history ... one of the foremost contributors of original and imaginative art work for the most memorable science fiction and fantasy publications of our time."

Virgil Finlay is read about 36 times a day, in 10 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 24 June 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 60 days, one point a day.

Something wrong?
Compare

A life in dates

2019Retro Hugo Award for Best Professional ArtistAward2018Retro Hugo Award for Best Professional ArtistAward2016Retro Hugo Award for Best Professional ArtistAward2014Retro Hugo Award for Best Professional ArtistAward2012Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of FameAward1996Retro Hugo Award for Best Professional ArtistAward1971Died18 January 19711953Hugo Award for Best Interior IllustratorAward1914Born23 July 1914

Awards

Retro Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist2019
Retro Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist2018
Retro Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist2016
Retro Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist2014
Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame2012
Retro Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist1996
Hugo Award for Best Interior Illustrator1953

About this person

While he worked in a range of media, from gouache to oils, Finlay specialized in, and became famous for, detailed pen-and-ink drawings accomplished with abundant stippling, cross-hatching, and scratchboard techniques. Despite the very labor-intensive and time-consuming nature of his specialty, Finlay created more than 2600 works of graphic art in his 35-year career.

Country
United States
Category
Artists
Type
Artist
Status
Deceased
Dates
Lived 1914 to 1971 · aged 56