The Biographical Dictionary of America/Abbey, Edwin Austin

ABBEY, Edwin Austin, artist, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1852. From childhood he displayed great artistic talent, which he was allowed to cultivate. He studied at the Pennsylvania academy of fine arts in Philadelphia, and in 1871 entered the publishing house of Harper & Brothers as an illustrator. His fame as an artist began with his work as it appeared in the periodicals and books of that house; among his finest productions being his illustrations of Robert Herrick's poems, Goldsmith's "She Stoops to Conquer," and the comedies of Shakespeare with 131 drawings. He was early made a member of the New York Water Color society. In 1878 he removed his studio to London, England, but continued his contributions to American publications. In 1883 the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colors elected him to membership, and in the same year he received a second-class medal at the national exhibition at Munich. He exhibited at the Paris Exposition in 1889, and obtained a first-class medal. Among his more notable early pictures are "The Stage Office," "The Evil Eye," "Lady in a Garden," "Rose in October," "The Widower," and "Reading the Bible." "Fiametta's Song," in the academy of 1893; his Arthurian canvases designed as panels for the Boston Public Library, illustrating the great mythological subject, "The Quest of the Holy Grail," painted in 1895; '"Richard, Duke of Gloucester, and the Lady Anne," exhibited at the Royal academy in 1896, established the artist's fame in the old world, and won for him an associateship in the Royal academy. He was subsequently made an associate of the Royal water-color society of Great Britain, and in 1897 he received the honorary degree of A.M. from Yale university. He exhibited his "King Lear" at the Royal academy in 1898. His works include: "A May Day Morning," "The Golden Necklace," "Richard III. and Lady Anne," "Hamlet," and illustrations for "Herrick's Poems," "She Stoops to Conquer," "Old Songs," "Quiet Life," and "Comedies of Shakespeare." He became a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor; a Royal Academician in 1898; received a gold medal at the Pan-American Exposition and was commissioned to paint the coronation of Edward VII. in 1901.