37 Facts About Howard Pyle

Howard Pyle was an American illustrator, painter, and author, primarily of books for young people.

Howard Pyle was a native of Wilmington, Delaware, and he spent the last year of his life in Florence, Italy.

Howard Pyle had a lasting influence on a number of artists who became notable in their own right; N C Wyeth, Frank Schoonover, Thornton Oakley, Allen Tupper True, Stanley Arthurs, and numerous others studied under him.

Howard Pyle is well known for his illustrations of pirates, and is credited with creating what has become the modern stereotype of pirate dress.

Howard Pyle published his first novel Otto of the Silver Hand in 1888.

Howard Pyle illustrated historical and adventure stories for periodicals such as Harper's Magazine and St Nicholas Magazine.

Howard Pyle died there in 1911 of a sudden kidney infection.

Howard Pyle was born in Wilmington, Delaware, the son of William Howard Pyle and Margaret Churchman Painter.

Howard Pyle was an indifferent student, but his parents encouraged him to study art, particularly his mother.

Howard Pyle studied for three years at the studio of F A Van der Wielen in Philadelphia, and this constituted the whole of his artistic training, aside from a few lessons at the Art Students League of New York.

Howard Pyle wrote and illustrated an article about the island and submitted it to Scribner's Monthly.

Howard Pyle initially struggled in New York; his lack of professional experience made it difficult for him to translate his ideas into forms for publication.

Howard Pyle became increasingly successful and was an established artist by the time that he returned to Wilmington in 1880.

Howard Pyle collaborated on several books, particularly in American history.

Howard Pyle wrote and illustrated his own stories, beginning with The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood in 1883.

Howard Pyle married singer Anne Poole on April 12,1881, and the couple had seven children.

In 1903, Howard Pyle painted his first murals for the Delaware Art Museum.

Howard Pyle took up mural painting more seriously in 1906 and painted The Battle of Nashville in Saint Paul, as well as two other murals for courthouses in New Jersey.

Howard Pyle developed his own ideas for illustrating pirate dress, as few examples existed of authentic pirate outfits and few, if any, drawings had been preserved.

Howard Pyle created a flamboyant style incorporating elements of Gypsy dress.

Howard Pyle's work influenced the design of costumes for movie pirates from Errol Flynn to Johnny Depp.

In 1937, his niece Caroline Ashton Pyle married his student N C Wyeth's son Nathaniel Convers Wyeth.

Howard Pyle wrote and illustrated a number of books, in addition to numerous illustrations done for Harper's Weekly, other periodical publications, and various works of fiction for children.

Howard Pyle synthesized many traditional Robin Hood legends and ballads in this work, while toning them down to make them suitable for children.

Howard Pyle has Robin kill only two men, one who shoots at him first when he was a youth, the other a hated assassin named Guy of Gisborne whom the Sheriff sent to slay him.

Howard Pyle did not have much concern for historical accuracy, but he renamed the queen in the story "Robin Hood and Queen Katherine" as Eleanor.

Howard Pyle's achievement was to integrate them into a unified story, which he illustrated.

Howard Pyle needed a cooperative priest for the wedding of outlaw Allan a Dale to his sweetheart Ellen.

Howard Pyle adapted it and gave the wrestler the identity of David of Doncaster, one of Robin's band in the story "Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow".

Howard Pyle's father was falsely implicated in a plot to kill King Henry IV.

Howard Pyle was widely respected during his life and continues to be well regarded by illustrators and fine artists.

Howard Pyle's illustrations are vivid and imaginative, yet not overly fantastic or contrived, lending them an air of colorful realism.

Howard Pyle had a lasting influence on a number of artists who became notable in their own right.

Howard Pyle taught his students at his home and studio in Wilmington, which is still standing and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Howard Pyle was an early member of The Franklin Inn Club in Philadelphia.

Howard Pyle's work continued to inspire well after his death; for example, comic book artist Tony Harris was born on 1969 and has cited Pyle as a major influence on his work.

Howard Pyle is remembered primarily as an illustrator, but his books have been analyzed for their literary qualities, particularly The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood.