1853 - 1911
Born into a Quaker family, Howard Pyle began his artistic training in 1869, when he enrolled in private art classes held by the painter Franz Van der Weilen in Philadelphia. During his three years as an art student, Pyle also studied anatomy under Dr. William W. Keen, the surgeon and medical author. He subsequently spent four years working in his father's leather manufacturing business. After moving to New York in 1876, Pyle enrolled in the antique class of the National Academy, he also studied at the Art Students League.
With the publication of his illustrated verse in Scribner's during that year, Pyle commenced an extraordinarily prolific career as an illustrator. Although he returned to his native Wilmington for two years beginning in 1879, he continued his work for New York publishers. In 1883, two years after his marriage to Anne Poole and relocation to Philadelphia, Pyle's The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, the first book which he both wrote and illustrated, was published. Eventually, Pyle would publish some 3300 illustrations in magazines and books, becoming especially known for his of fairy tales and medieval stories such as the legends of the court of King Arthur. During America's golden age of illustration, Pyle was one of its formeost representatives.
Pyle was also known as an outstanding teacher. He began teaching at the Drexel Institute in Philadelphia in 1894, and four years later began instructing their summer classes at Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. In 1900, Pyle resigned to open his own, tuition-free school in Wilmington. Five years later he began a
weekly lecture series at the Art Students League in New York. Pyle's students included N. Convers Wyeth, Maxfield Parrish, Violet Oakley and Jessie Wilcox Smith. [? did he teach at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts]
In 1905, Pyle also became art editor of McClure's Magazine, a position from which he resigned that same year. His first mural commission was executed for the Minnesota State Capitol, he subsequently designed architectural decorations for the Essex County Court House in Essex, New Jersey and the Hudson County Court House in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Pyle did not visit Europe until the last year of his life, which he spent in Italy. He is buried outside the city of Florence.
With the publication of his illustrated verse in Scribner's during that year, Pyle commenced an extraordinarily prolific career as an illustrator. Although he returned to his native Wilmington for two years beginning in 1879, he continued his work for New York publishers. In 1883, two years after his marriage to Anne Poole and relocation to Philadelphia, Pyle's The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, the first book which he both wrote and illustrated, was published. Eventually, Pyle would publish some 3300 illustrations in magazines and books, becoming especially known for his of fairy tales and medieval stories such as the legends of the court of King Arthur. During America's golden age of illustration, Pyle was one of its formeost representatives.
Pyle was also known as an outstanding teacher. He began teaching at the Drexel Institute in Philadelphia in 1894, and four years later began instructing their summer classes at Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. In 1900, Pyle resigned to open his own, tuition-free school in Wilmington. Five years later he began a
weekly lecture series at the Art Students League in New York. Pyle's students included N. Convers Wyeth, Maxfield Parrish, Violet Oakley and Jessie Wilcox Smith. [? did he teach at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts]
In 1905, Pyle also became art editor of McClure's Magazine, a position from which he resigned that same year. His first mural commission was executed for the Minnesota State Capitol, he subsequently designed architectural decorations for the Essex County Court House in Essex, New Jersey and the Hudson County Court House in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Pyle did not visit Europe until the last year of his life, which he spent in Italy. He is buried outside the city of Florence.
