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
in the Titanic disaster at the. very height of his powers, was
in charge of the decoration of the various rooms, and had
immediately selected Howard Pyle to do five pictures of
an historical nature, illustrating the discovery of the Hudson
River and the early settling of its banks. These pictures
are remarkable for their coloring, perhaps the best that
is exhibited in any of his mural paintings. He was assisted
in the finishing of these pictures by Stanley Arthurs and
Frank Schoonover,
In 1910 he came to the conclusion that for the remainder
of his life he would devote himself entirely to mural decoration, and with that in view he went to Italy, that he might
there be able to study the old masters, especially their
coloring. This was a brave decision, for he had long been
opposed to any foreign influence, and had vigorously
opposed all European innovations in American Art. Now he
began to feel that if he were to go on with his career of
wall decoration, it was imperative that he should know
much more thoroughly the pictures of the Italian masters.
He was not destined, however, to reap the benefits of his
studies in Italy. He was not well when he left America,
and after a lingering illness he died at Florence in November
of the next year. With his death, American Art lost a great
figure who would, had he been able to carry out the new
impulses which Italy gave him, doubtless have left mural
paintings far superior to any of those by which we know him.

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