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
superficial. My own work is perhaps heavy, and lacking in
brilliancy, but I do not see why it is not quite possible to
have both brilliancy and solidity. just now the world demands brilliancy and originality; but you know how fashions
change, and when the demand-which seems to me to be
very near-shall be made for something more solid, I do
not see where it is to come from. The Gibson-Hutt school
of illustration is bound to have its day and to pass, and
when it is gone, I do not see that there will be anything
at all left behind that will be worth keeping. There are
very strong young talents in the world of illustration, and
I am only sorry that my little dip into the young art life of
New York should not have inspired the wish upon their
part to take advantage of my experience.
"I know all this sounds very egotistical and self-assured
but I believe I am quite losing sight of my own self in the
matter-at least, I am writing very frankly to you. After
all, whatever is, is right, and it is doubtless better that the
young art should learn its own truths instead of having
them interjected by another man. I have offered my
services to the cause, but I shall not repine that those to
whom they were offered desired to obtain their knowledge
in another way."
During all these years of strenuous activity both in creative work and in instruction, he had been developing theories
of what American Art should be, and by what methods it
would be possible to produce it. The following extracts
from a few of his letters will give his ideas in some detail,
particularly as to the inadequacy of the American Art
Schools.
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