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

MURAL DECORATION
Massachusetts. If this is so it would be more than all our
enthusiasms and strength and limitless friendship could do
to prop up my cause to make it stand.. * *))1
In spite of this failure in Boston, however, Howard Pyle
did not give up the idea of some day doing mural painting.
In order to gain some practical knowledge of the art, he
began a series of wall decorations for a room in his house
at Wilmington. These were not completed until 1905,
when one of them was exhibited at the Society of Architects
with considerable tuccess. In the same year came the golden
opportunity. Cass Gilbert, the architect for the Minnesota
State Capitol, gave him the commission for a large picture
of "The Battle of Nashville" to be placed in the Governor's Reception Room. It was just the sort of painting
that- he was supremely fitted to do, and when completed it
was a magnificent triumph. A year after it had been put
in position, Cass Gilbert wrote him: "1.. * I have just this
morning returned from St. Paul, where I have had a chance
to see your superb picture of 'The Battle of Nashville.'
I want again to congratulate you with all my heart upon
your distinguished success in this picture. I am very proud
to have it in the building. It is a great work of Art.. 0 0.
Then, in 1907, he painted for another building of Cass
Gilbert's, the Essex County Court House in Newark, New
Jersey, "The Landing of Carteret," which is thought by
many to be the best example of his work in this style. In
a letter to W. Walton, July 28, 1906, he gives a complete
account of all the mural work which he had done up to
this time,) including "The Landing of Carteret," on which
he was then at work:
1To Winthrop Scudder, December 26, 1898.
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