Edwin Austin Abbey, born in Philadelphia on April 1, 1852, was an artist whose career unfolds before us like a colorful painting. His artistic development began with simple illustrations for magazines such as Harper's Weekly and Scribner's Magazine. His creative line was influenced by European black and white art, and his skills grew visibly as he illustrated the works of Charles Dickens, Robert Herrick, and Oliver Goldsmith. With these works, Abbey proved that he was as skilled with a pen as other artists were with a brush.
In 1878, at the request of his employers, Abbey moved to England to illustrate the poetry of Robert Herrick. His illustrations were so successful that he eventually settled in England. In 1883, he was elected to the prestigious Royal Institute of Painters in Water-Colors. It was around this time that Abbey began to become known for his paintings as well. His watercolor "The Evil Eye" and other works such as "The Rose in October," "An Old Song," "The Visitors," and "The Jongleur" have lost none of their original magic to this day. Abbey also created wonderful pastels such as "Beatrice," "Phyllis," and "Two Noble Kinsmen," which demonstrate his extraordinary ability to master the gentle tones of this technique. Abbey first showcased his skills with oils in 1890 with his painting "A May Day Morn." His participation in the Royal Academy in London marked an important milestone in his career. Equally notable was his commission of the painting for the coronation of King Edward VII in 1901, which earned him well-deserved recognition.
The 1890s took Abbey to the Boston Public Library, where he created an impressive series of murals. The series, depicting "The Quest and Attainment of the Holy Grail," was a massive undertaking that took Abbey eleven years to complete in his English studio. It was a true masterpiece that continues to impress visitors to the library today with its ingenuity and perfect craftsmanship. An art print of one of his works from this series would certainly enhance any home or office. Another project Abbey undertook was the creation of a series of murals and artwork for the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. This ambitious project, begun in 1908, presented the ultimate challenge to his artistic abilities. Unfortunately, his health deteriorated at this time and he was unable to complete all of the works himself. Edwin Austin Abbey left an impressive artistic legacy. His works are exhibited in many prestigious museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Although Abbey is no longer with us, his presence remains in the masterpieces he left behind. He is proof that true art can transcend time and space, touching the hearts and souls of people long after the artist's death.
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.jpg "Who Is Sylvia What Is She, That All the Swains Commend Her by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1333544).jpg "Sketch of a Male Nude by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Study for The Hours, House of Representatives Chamber, Pennsylvania State Capitol, Harrisburg by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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_Sketch_of_one_foot_(verso)_-_(MeisterDrucke-1340196).jpg "Sketch of Three Feet (recto); Sketch of One Foot (verso) by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Figure Study, for The Spirit of Vulcan, Genius of the Workers in Iron and Steel, Rotunda, Pennsylvania State Capitol, Harrisburg by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Lady Macbeth by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "The Death of Mercutio - Act III, Scene I, Romeo and Juliet by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Woman with Osprey Headdress and White Fur Collar by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Falstaff by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Katherine and Alice - Act III, Scene V, King Henry V by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Hamlet by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Rebecca and Rowena, illustration for Ivanhoe by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Sketch for King John, from King John by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Portrait of an Unidentified Woman by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Friar Laurence by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Study of Kneeling Woman, Probably a Study for Juliet in the Tomb Scene by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "The Hours by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Sketch of a Hand by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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_-_Enter_Theseus_from_-_(MeisterDrucke-1336814).jpg "Marriage Morning of Theseus and Hippolyta (detail) - Enter Theseus, from A Midsummer Night by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Compositional Study, possibly for Galahad Departs from the Land, in The Quest and Achievement of the Holy Grail, Book Delivery Room, Boston Public Library by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Nude Male Figure Study, Life Class by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Study of Figure of 6 PM, for The Hours Mural at the State Capitol Building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Figure study for The Spirit of Vulcan, Genius of the Workers in Iron and Steel, capitol rotunda, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Seated Nude Female Figure by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Study for Figure of 9 am by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Study for Figure of Abundance in the Mural, Science Revealing the Treasures of the Earth, at the State Capitol Building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Sheet of Sketches: Two Nude Females, Profile of a Man, Figure Seated in an Interior by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "O Mistress Mine, Where Are You Roaming, 1899 c1940 by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "King Lear, Act I, Scene I, Cordelia")
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.jpg "Sheet of Sketches by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Sketch for a Greeting Card: All Good Wishes for the New Year from M.G. and E.A. Abbey by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Figure Study for the Knighting of Sir Galahad, from The Quest of the Holy Grail (a Series of Fifteen Paintings for the Boston Public Library, Completed in 1901) by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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_Unidentified_illustration_of_man_in_a_forest_(ver_-_(MeisterDrucke-1334200).jpg "Civil War Battle Scene (recto); Unidentified Illustration of Man in a Forest (verso) by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Miranda and Ferdinand, illustration for Act V, Scene i, The Tempest by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Mary, the Wife of Cleophas, Study for The Three Marys by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Design for Window Decoration for State Capitol Building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 1902-1911 by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Pasture Scene with Cow in Foreground by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Sketch for Oliver Goldsmith by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Figure Study for Seven Deadly Sins, from The Quest of the Holy Grail (a series of 15 paintings for the Boston Public Library, completed in 1901) by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Sketch of a female figure, seated by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Sketch of a Landscape with Tree, Fence and Female Figure by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Ophelia by the Brook - Act IV, Scene VII, Hamlet by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Study of a Man in 17th Century Dutch Costume - Unidentified. Studies on Reverse by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Men in Rowboat Fleeing Indians on Shore - Unidentified Illustration (Columbus Discovering New World?) - Explorers Landing in the New World by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Figure on throne, flanked by two figures, sketch for an unidentified Shakespeare play by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1336171).jpg "Three Men, Study for Taming of the Shrew (?) by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Figure Study for The Spirit of Vulcan, Genius of the Workers in Iron and Steel, capitol rotunda, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Maria, Sir Andrew, and Toby, illustration for Act I, Scene iii, Twelfth Night by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "The Queen, Costume Sketch for King Richard II by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Underwater Scene by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Who Is Sylvia? What Is She, That All the Swains Commend Her?, c.1896-99 by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Study of Sir Galahad, for One of the Murals from The Quest of the Holy Grail (a Series of Fifteen Paintings for the Boston Public Library, Completed in 1901) by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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_costume_sketch_for_Henry_Irving_-_(MeisterDrucke-1357566).jpg "Richard II (in Black), Costume Sketch for Henry Irving by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Woman Holding a Lap Dog by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Figure study by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Study for the Head of Ophelia, in The Play Scene, in Hamlet by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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_-_Highland_Town_-_(MeisterDrucke-1336921).jpg "Bourg & Bribun Cliffs, Mull by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Sketch of an Exterior of a Country House by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Figure Study, for The Apotheosis of Pennsylvania, House of Representatives Chamber, Pennsylvania State Capitol, Harrisburg by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Study of Back of a Seated Man in XV Century Costume, for a Shakespearean Scene by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Sketch of a Woman - Costume Study for a Play? by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Within the Tent of Brutus: Enter the Ghost of Caesar, Julius Caesar, Act IV, Scene III by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Study for General Meade: Sketch for Mural for the State Capitol Building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 1902-1911 (Completed by John Singer Sargent) by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Study, Portrait Head of Man, Coronation of Edward VII Portrait by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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_costume_sketch_for_Henry_Irving_-_(MeisterDrucke-1336853).jpg "Aumerle (armed), costume sketch for Henry Irving by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Goneril and Regan in King Lear Act I Scene I by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Galahad and the Captive Virtues, study for The Quest of the Holy Grail (series of fifteen paintings for the Boston Public Library, completed in 1901) by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Olivier and Amiens, costume sketch for Henry Irving by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "A Figure in Classical Dress by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Sketch of a country cottage by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Mariana and Boy Singing - Act III, Scene I, Measure for Measure by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Figure Study by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Figure Study for The Spirit of Vulcan, Genius of the Workers in Iron and Steel, Capitol Rotunda, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Study for figure in The Spirit of Vulcan, Genius of the Workers in Iron and Steel, capitol rotunda, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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_costume_sketch_for_Henry_Irving_-_(MeisterDrucke-1339941).jpg "The Queen (in Pink), Costume Sketch for Henry Irving by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Parolles by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "The Queen in")
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.jpg "Two Cloaked Men, Sketch for an Unidentified Shakespeare Play by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Coronation of Edward VII Portrait: Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Sketch of Leafing Tree Branches by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Figure Study by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Cartoon of a man in pantaloons by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Illustration for... by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1338970).jpg "Study for an unidentified stained glass window picturing a cardinal by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Crusaders Sighting Jerusalem by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "A Measure by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Brutus and the Ghost of Julius Caesar by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Sketch of Three Men, from Merchant of Venice by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1334662).jpg "Portrait of a Young Mrs. Abbey by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Figure Study by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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_-_un_-_(MeisterDrucke-1340053).jpg "Sketch of a Couple Playing a Game, Surrounded by Onlookers, in an Interior by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Medallion Study for Mural at the State Capitol Building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 1902-1911 (completed by John Singer Sargent) by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Figure Study, for The Apotheosis of Pennsylvania, House of Representatives Chamber, Pennsylvania State Capitol, Harrisburg by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Desdemona and Emilia - Act IV, Scene III, Othello by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Bushy, Costume Sketch for King Richard II by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Figure Study by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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_from_The_Quest_of_the_Holy_Grail_(a_se_-_(MeisterDrucke-1331719).jpg "Figure Study for the Infancy of Galahad, from The Quest of the Holy Grail by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Study for Science: Sketch for Mural for the State Capitol Building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 1902-1911 (Completed by John Singer Sargent) by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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.jpg "Fair Is My Love by Edwin Austin Abbey")
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