Howard Pyle

Born in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1853, Howard Pyle became one of the most influential American illustrators and authors of his era. He wrote and illustrated books especially for young readers, and he is still remembered for classic adventure tales such as The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood and stories of pirates, knights, and legends.

Pyle’s gift was the way he combined pictures and storytelling so naturally that each seemed to deepen the other. His work appeared widely in magazines and books, and his historical scenes and dramatic characters helped define how many readers came to imagine the Middle Ages, colonial America, and the world of seafaring adventure.

He was also an important teacher, encouraging a younger generation of illustrators and helping shape American illustration beyond his own books. Pyle spent the last year of his life in Florence, Italy, where he died in 1911, but his influence continued long after through both his stories and his art.