Howard Pyle, a chronicle by Charles D. Abbott, with an introduction by N. C. Wyeth and many illustrations from Howard Pyle's works.

HOWARD PYLE:- A CHRONICLE
draw them, describing them maybe in words as well as in
pictures..0-x
At the beginning of his third year at the Drexel Institute, Howard Pyle began to have what amounted to complete control of the entire Art Department. The following
letter to Dr. McAlister gives something of his plans, and
shows very clearly how he had thrown himself body and
soul into this attempt to benefit young artists: 11... It
seems to me that both a day class and a night class might be
established, its aim being to work from a life model draped
in costume instead of being nude.. 0. I would do my best
to instruct them in such knowledge as I myself possess in
drawing the living figure into my picture.
"In sounding the students I find them enthusiastic in their
desire to embark upon such a course of study, and they tell
me that the only difficulty would be that such classes would
be too large-a generous fault, I think..a0
"This work of a draped life class shotild not, of course,
interfere with my lectures-it should supplement them. I
think my lectures are useful, but I think they only give in
theory that which I want here to render practical to all.
There are in Europe classes similar to this that I suggest,
but none, I think, that devote the attention of the students
to accomplish such really practical results as those at which
I aim.
"I am very desirous of helping the coming generation of
artists, and if I could hope to accomplish the purpose which
I have in mind, I would be very glad to give two full days
of each week to the Drexel Institute.. 0. In those days I
would come early to Philadelphia and would devote, the first
1Letter to Dr. James McAlister, October 6, it 896..[206 ]