I have been busy at work preparing for a new exhibition that is opening up next Saturday, June 9, at Norman Rockwell Museum. Howard Pyle: American Master Rediscovered looks at the work of an artist who is frequently referred to as the "grandfather of American illustration." Howard Pyle (1853-1911) was one of the most popular artists of his day, creating widely circulated images of pirates, knights, historical figures and fairy tales for popular American publications. His work was admired by such creative types as Vincent Van Gogh, Mark Twain, and Norman Rockwell, and has had a lasting impact on our visual culture (Pirates of the Caribbean, anyone?).
I think this exhibition, curated by the Delaware Art Museum, is going to be a good one--sort of a summer blockbuster, if you will--the artwork looks stunning:
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| "An Attack on a Galleon," Howard Pyle, 1905. Oil on canvas, 29 1/2" x 19 1/2" Delaware Art Museum, Museum Purchase, 1912 |
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| "The Mermaid," Howard Pyle, 1910. Oil on canvas, 57 7/8" x 40 1/8" Gift of the children of Howard Pyle in memory of their mother, Anne Poole Pyle, 1940 |
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| "The Buccaneer Was a Picturesque Fellow," Howard Pyle, 1905. Oil on canvas, 30 1/2" x 19 1/2". Delaware Art Museum, Museum Purchase, 1912. |
Eat your heart out, Captain Jack Sparrow... Pyle also served as a teacher for many talented illustrators whose careers took off during the early 20th century. N.C. Wyeth, Jessie Willcox Smith, and one of my favorites, Maxfield Parrish (I can see the influence in Parrish's highly dramatic and detailed paintings).
So I'm in the process of setting up press interviews and trying to spread the word about the exhibition. If that weren't enough, the Museum will be holding a special pirate-themed dance party during the opening, as well as a Thursday night lecture series during the summer, that looks at the artist's influence. So I'm busy trying to come up with catchy slogans... "Set your sights on adventure this summer..." "Shake Your Pirate Booty"... not sure if "Pirate Bootylicious exhibition" is going too far... but this should be a good one.
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