Edwin Austin Abbey\nBorn April 1, 1852 – August 1, 1911\nEducation Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts\n\nAbbey was born in Philadelphia in 1852. He studied art at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts under Christian Schuessele. Abbey began as an illustrator, producing numerous illustrations and sketches for such magazines as Harper\'s Weekly and Scribner\'s Magazine. He moved to New York City in 1871. His illustrations were strongly influenced by French and German black and white art. He also illustrated several best-selling books, including Christmas Stories by Charles Dickens, Selections from the Poetry of Robert Herrick, and She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith. Abbey also illustrated a four-volume set of The Comedies of Shakespeare for Harper & Brothers in 1896.\n\nHe moved to England in 1878, at the request of his employers, to gather material concerning Robert Herrick, and he settled permanently there in 1883.\n\nIn 1904 he painted a mural for the Royal Exchange, London Reconciliation of the Skinners & Merchant Taylors\' Companies by Lord Mayor Billesden.\n\nIn 1908–09, Abbey began an ambitious program of murals and other artworks for the newly completed Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. \n\nHe was working on the Reading of the Declaration of Independence mural in early 1911, when his health began to fail. He was diagnosed with cancer. Studio assistant Ernest Board continued work on the mural with little supervision from Abbey, and with contributions by John Singer Sergeant. Abbey died in August 1911, leaving two rooms of the commission unfinished. The remainder of the work was given to Violet Oakley, who completed the commission from start to finish using her own designs.\n\nHonors\n1883 elected to the Royal Institute of Painters in Water-Colors.\n1898 He was made a full member of the Royal Academy\nelected to the National Academy of Design\n1902 elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters\n1979 inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame\n\nonline gallery: https://americangallery.wordpress.com/2012/09/23/edwin-austin-abbey-1852-1911-2/\n

Edwin Austin Abbey History of American Illustration