Howard Pyle: Studies with Van der Weilen

"Battle of Bunker Hill" by Howard Pyle

"When Howard Pyle was about 15 or 16 years old his parents decided that it would be best to send him to college, but what did college mean to a youth who is more anxious to learn how to get a certain shady effect in the background of a pen-and-ink sketch, then he was in knowing what Cicero said in support of the Manilian Law? Still, it was obviously necessary for Howard to study somewhere. 

Philadelphia seemed to present the greatest opportunities. There were two schools there where the young artist might conceivably do his work. The Academy of Fine Arts, where careful instruction could be obtained along general classical lines, and a little private school where a certain Mr. Van der Weilen conducted a small class. It was decided that Howard should go to the second of these. 

This was a great and momentous step. Mr. Van der Wielen had graduated from the school in Antwerp with honors, but in pursuing his studies too zealously had injured his eyesight. He could go see sufficiently well to be of inestimable service to those pupils who were placed with him. With all the advantages of a European training, with a full knowledge of the most accepted technique, he combined a real teaching skill. This was the only systematic training that Howard ever had.

Even with all of this, Howard found time to help his father in the family leather business, which was not prospering too well in the early 70s. After the lessons with Van der Weilen were over, there began to be a waning in the young artists dreams of an art career. He was working almost steadily in the leather establishment and was heavily occupied with a variety of social activities. There was plenty to do, and he was happy. His artistic ambitions were almost dead. He needed a great awakening and it came in the fall of 1876."

To be continued

(Excerpts from "Howard Pyle, A Chronicle" by Charles D. Abbott.)