It was founded by the publisher Henry Colburn, who appointed the journalist and contributor William Jerdan as editor in July 1817.
[1] The format of the magazine was always essentially the same, each issue consisting of about sixteen pages typeset in three columns.
Feature sections included "Original Correspondence" and a social column as well as notice of theatre productions.
The magazine also occasionally featured news of subjects of interest such as archaeological discoveries, inventions, art exhibitions,[1] architecture and the sciences.
[2] William Paulet Carey and Walter Henry Watts acted as art critics.