From Library Journal
Earlier in the previous century, adventure novels by such writers as Raphael Sabatini, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, and James Branch Cabell needed illustrations to describe the action and locales. Inspired by demand, Howard Pyle, artist and author, founded the Brandywine School in Wilmington, DE, later moving it to Chadds Ford, PA, and naming it for the river that ran through the towns. His purpose was to groom artists as illustrators to meet the growing demand created by these stories, books, and, later, sportsmen's ads. This collection looks at six of the artists: Pyle, N.C. Wyeth, Harvey Dunn, Frank Schoonover, Philip Goodwin, and Dean Cornwell. Though trained in the East, these determined artists traveled widely to help make their work more authentic, and much of the enjoyment here lies in the themes they typically explored: chivalry, pirates, Native Americans, and the frontier. With accompanying essays by ten different scholars of the school, the 45 illustrations featured are lush in color and stunning in four gatefolds. There are brief biographies of each artist with a select bibliography. Strongly recommended for all collections.DJoseph Hewgley, Nashville P.L. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Book Description
As famous in their day as the authors whose stories they illustrated, the six artists profiled in this nostalgic collection-N.C. Wyeth, Howard Pyle, Harvey Dunn, Frank Schoonover, Philip R. Goodwin and Dean Cornwell-used their unique talents at narrative depiction to bring to life places and times in ways no modern medium has surpassed. Vividly reproduced directly from the original paintings that illustrated the pages of popular books and magazines of up to a century ago, many of the pictures are seen here for the first time, just as the artists painted them. The paintings presented in this handsome volume lured readers to the exciting adventure tales of buccaneers and cowboys, hunters and outlaws, pirate fiction and historical romance written by Robert Louis Stevenson, Arthur Conan Doyle, James Branch Cabell, and other favored writers of the day. Although commissioned to illustrate the written word, these storytelling works of art can stand alone. No text is needed to understand the drama of Howard Pyle's Dead Men Tell No Tales, N. C. Wyeth's The Magic Pool, Frank Schoonover's A Northern Mist, and the dozens of other captivating paintings presented here.

SYNOPSIS

This collection contains examples of the work of Howard Pyle, N.C. Wyeth, and four other exceptional painters from the Brandywine school of illustration, which opened in 1900. The 45-plus color illustrations, selected from magazines and books published throughout the 20th century, are accompanied by commentary discussing each work and illustrator. Five sections present chivalry, pirates, the American Indian, the frontier, and the art of illustrationa personal journey. Edited by art collector Dell in association with Walt Reed, who has chronicled the history of American illustration in several books and articles. Oversize: 9.25x12.25". Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal

Earlier in the previous century, adventure novels by such writers as Raphael Sabatini, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, and James Branch Cabell needed illustrations to describe the action and locales. Inspired by demand, Howard Pyle, artist and author, founded the Brandywine School in Wilmington, DE, later moving it to Chadds Ford, PA, and naming it for the river that ran through the towns. His purpose was to groom artists as illustrators to meet the growing demand created by these stories, books, and, later, sportsmen's ads. This collection looks at six of the artists: Pyle, N.C. Wyeth, Harvey Dunn, Frank Schoonover, Philip Goodwin, and Dean Cornwell. Though trained in the East, these determined artists traveled widely to help make their work more authentic, and much of the enjoyment here lies in the themes they typically explored: chivalry, pirates, Native Americans, and the frontier. With accompanying essays by ten different scholars of the school, the 45 illustrations featured are lush in color and stunning in four gatefolds. There are brief biographies of each artist with a select bibliography. Strongly recommended for all collections.--Joseph Hewgley, Nashville P.L. Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\

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