Introducing E.A. Abbey

Next: The great illustrator Edwin A. Abbey, R.A. Click to enlarge this illustration from Harper's Monthly Magazine of November 1906. It is of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, from Act II, Scene II. She is depicted imploring her husband, "Give me the daggers."

For more about Abbey, go to Bud Plant's site at this link.

This is a photo of E.A. Abbey, R.A. that appeared in an article about him in Harper's Monthly Magazine for May 1900, when Abbey was in his late forties. By that time he had become probably the best known and admired illustrator, painter and muralist in both Britain and the United States.

This is Abbey's Studio we are told (but the eminent author, painter and art critic Henry Strachey neglects to tell us where in England it is -- or perhaps it's an editorial oversight). It doesn't take an art historian or genius to learn from the photo that this is one painter who works on a grand scale. Click on image to enlarge.

Click on the image to enlarge the photo, a section of Abbey's mural, "Holy Grail," in the Boston Public Library as it appeared in 1898.

Abbey was a mere lad of 21 when this sketch appeared in Harper's Monthly Magazine for January 1873 in the section entitled "Editor's Drawer" depicting a "persuasive rascal, this wandering dog-fancier." The words are not likely those of Abbey but of the London correspondent for the magazine.

Abbey's illustration of French refugees for the same section in Harper's Monthly Magazine appeared in the April 1873 issue. Click on these images to enlarge them.

Comments

[sheldon]

The huge studio pictured in Harper's Monthly is probably the one built for Abbey by his wealthy wife at Morgan Hall in Gloucestershire. He and Sargent shared the building, one at each end, when they were doing their wall paintings for the Boston Public Library.

[Li-An]

Thank you :-)

[Paul Giambarba]

Since I can't know which would be more interesting to you, I can only suggest the very least expensive: #3 of The Enchanted Village, which has some excellent line drawings (see Edwin A. Abbey - 2) at $14.99 and #5 at $10.37 which I have not seen but is the cheapest of the lot.

[Li-An]

Thank you for your advice. Wich of them are the more interesting ? It's not easy to see if there is images and so on...

[giam]

Go to amazon.com(USA) and search books for Edwin A. Abbey and you will find a number of titles that are easy to find and not too expensive when converting Euros to $USA.

[Li-An]

A 1901 's book is available ??? Sorry, I found only Unfaded Pageant and it was expensive for a mostly black and white images (and small ones). I don't want to spend to much money for books. I was speaking about easy to find and not to expensives books...:-)

[Paul Giambarba]

There are a number of books available. Check out amazon.com and abebooks.com, and particularly Bud Plant's site at http://www.bpib.com/abbey.htm

[Li-An]

It's a pity there is no good book for this artist...