The Old Violin

by Howard Pyle, 1894.

Two Howard Pyle Paintings

Illustration for Men of Iron, 1891.

Illustration for "Sinbad on Burrator," Scribner's Magazine, August 1902.

Pirate's Ghost!

I really love this one by Howard Pyle, I should probably save it for Halloween, but this is a good time of year for ghosts too...




"There Cap'n Goldsack goes, creeping, creeping, creeping, Looking for his treasure down below!" Illustration by Howard Pyle for William Sharp's "Cap'n Goldsack," Harper's Magazine, July 1902.

The Shell

By Howard Pyle



A superlative illustration by Howard Pyle depicting a scene during the siege of Vicksburg in 1863. This picture was in a National Geographic Civil War book my family had when I was young. It both fascinated and terrified me. I couldn't take my eyes off it.

Howard Pyle's "Pepper and Salt"

Howard Pyle's Pepper and Salt: or, Season For Young Folk was first published in 1885. The book contained eight stories written and illustrated by Pyle. It also contained 24 illustrated poems. All of the illustrated poems are featured below. Please click on them for a larger view. These drawings are wonderfully detailed and whimsical, showing a different side of Pyle from his more action and costume oriented painting of pirates and historical scenes.

Howard Pyle's The Wonder Clock

The Wonder Clock, written and illustrated by Howard Pyle, was first published in 1887. Pyle wrote and illustrated the book, which contains 24 stories (one for each hour of the day!). His sister Katherine contributed to it by writing a verse for each hour and some decorative illustrations for each page of verse.

This is one of my favorite books by Pyle. The frontispiece illustration (first scan below) is my favorite black and white piece by Pyle. The book is packed with illustrations, page decorations, chapter headings, all manner of drawings by one of the great American illustrators. Below is a small selection of drawings from The Wonder Clock. The scans are from a 1915 reprint of the book.

Howard Pyle

Some illustrations by Howard Pyle, the father of American illustration.



The Assassination of LaSalle.



I clutched at his ankle.



Once it chased Dr. Wilkinson into the very town itself.



Pirates used to do their Captains now & then.


This page has some nice images of artwork by some of Pyle's students.