EXTRACTS: Pirates! Illustrators Special Edition © 2020 The Book Palace (128 PAGES in Full edition)

82 ABOVE: Letter of Introduction , gouache on board, ca. 1870s. A rather pastoral painting from the early days when Pyle was still trying to figure out what he wanted to illustrate. Scenes like this, showing his attention to detail, especially in the costumes his characters wore, placed him among the greatest American historical painters. FACING PAGE: The Mob in Shay’s Rebellion in Possession of a Courthouse , oil on board, 1883. A group of protestors, led by Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shays, began a six month rebellion by taking over the Court of Common Pleas in Northampton, in opposition to the state government’s increased efforts to collect taxes both on individuals and their trades; the fight took place mostly during 1786 and 1787. graving than a painting and so Pyle, accordingly, worked with these inconveniences in mind while producing his work. Later, when photomechanical techniques were used for halftone printing, Pyle switched to oils and gouache, which gave him a greater tonal effect than simple watercol‐ ours. Again, this was all done in grey tones, as printing was only possible in black and white. It wasn’t until the turn of the 20th century, when photogravure, and later offset, was readily available, that the public could finally see Pyle’s work reproduced in colour for mass consumption. Meanwhile Pyle was finding life in New York was not to his liking. However, during the three years he had spent there, his reputation had grown, plus he had already estab‐ lished contacts among the magazine editors, so he decided to go back home for good to Wilmington at the end of 1879. From Wilmington, he collaborated on several magazines, most notably on American history, something Text continues on page 88 Images courtesy of Christie’s