Howard Pyle: Mural Decoration

"The Battle of Nashville" by Howard Pyle

"Toward the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth there was in America a vast increase in popular interest in mural paintings. The architects of public buildings were insisting upon the importance of decoration, and were everywhere planning wall spaces that required the work of the rising mural painters. Elihu Vedder, Edwin Austin Abbey, Edwin Blashfield, Kenyon Cox and many others were doing excellent things.

Under conditions such as these it was inevitable that Howard Pyle should turn his attention to this branch of art. For many years he had desired to paint some large mural decoration, in which he could create a lasting evidence of the historical knowledge which he had acquired. In order to gain some practical knowledge of the art, he began a series of wall decorations for a room in his house at Wilmington. These were not completed until 1905, when one of them was exhibited at the Society of Architects with considerable success. In the same year came the golden opportunity.

Cass Gilbert, the architect for the Minnesota State Capitol, gave him the commission for a large picture of 'The Battle of Nashville' to be placed in the Governor's Reception Room. It was just the sort of painting that he was supremely fitted to do, and when completed it was a magnificent triumph. A year after it had been put in position, Cass Gilbert wrote him: 

'I have just this morning returned from St. Paul, where I have had a chance to see your superb picture of 'The Battle of Nashville.' I want again to congratulate you with all my heart upon your distinguished success in this picture. I am very proud to have it in the building. It is a great work of Art.'

Then, in 1907, he painted for another building of Cass Gilbert's, the Essex County Court House in Newark, New Jersey, 'The Landing of Carteret,' which is thought by many to be the best example of his work in this style. After that was a group of pictures for the Hudson County Court House at Jersey City. Frank Millet had chosen him to paint five pictures of historical nature, illustrating the discovery of the Hudson River and the early settling of its banks.

In 1910 he came to the conclusion that for the remainder of his life he would devote himself entirely to mural decoration, and with that in view he went to Italy, that he might there study the work of the old masters, especially their coloring."

To be continued

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