The Howard Pyle Brandywine Edition, 1853-1933

Howard Pyle (author & illustrator), N. C. Wyeth (preface & illustration), Andrew Wyeth and Robert Ball (illustrations)

My brother, Michael, just picked up this volume for me. It’s part of the post-humous Howard Pyle Brandywine Editions, 1853-1933. I’ve not seen the other volumes in this series. It’s a strange book from an illustration point of view. One expects to see Pyle’s own illustrations, and inviting his compatriot illustrators, like Wyeth, to add a painted frontispiece and a reminiscence is a lovely and welcome thing. In this case, proud father N.C. has added two drawings by his twelve year old son, Andrew. But the real confusion here is what was the role of Robert Ball who is credited with ”the pen decorations.”

I always thought HP’s work was pen and not woodcut, otherwise the distinction would make sense. Pyle’s work here was certainly drawn to resemble woodcut, but strikes me as having the freedom of the pen, not the exceedingly careful knife work of the woodcut or wood engraving. Fortunately, Pyle’s work almost invariably incorporates his “HP” signature, including his tail pieces, otherwise we might be wondering if some of what is clearly Pyle’s work might not have come from Robert Ball.

Pyle’s works here are among his most magnificent, and the N.C. Wyeth frontispiece, repeated as a roundel on the cover, is delightful. Wyeth diplomatically refuses to over-compete with Pyle’s extraordinary work. It’s a wonderful complimentary painting to go with Wyeth’s short, lovely preface.

That leaves Andrew and Robert Ball for us to deal with. I’m still not clear what Ball’s full role was. He seems to have authored very few illustrations in the book. Perhaps as few as one or two, but I suspect he is responsible for such purely decorative bits such as the design elements that surround the two Andrew Wyeth drawings. (My guesses at Ball’s contributions: the initial title page, but not the title page further in (page v?), the copyright page on the inverse of the first title page, the drop case in Wyeth’s forward, the designs around Andrew’s two drawings). His work seems capable even if the task he was given must have seemed terribly thankless.

But Andrew, given his enormous stature in later years, is certainly of greater interest. His work here is quite welcome when we remember that Andrew will go on to be a substantial painter in his own right. However, the two pleasant drawings here reflect the direct influence of his father and hardly hint at the psychological depth he would later explore in his own work. Father Wyeth proudly shows off what young Andrew has learnt working at his father’s knee. It’s good work, more than competent, but not brilliant and with none of the genius for exploring the human soul that defines his later work, let alone his father’s work at its best (I think there is room for a good study of the psychological depth that both father and son shared in their mature work.)

I wondered, as collectors do, what sort of value this volume had on the current market. As a representation of three of our most important illustrator/artists it might draw some big dollars, mightn’t it? Michael paid $15 for it, and from what I can see, given some minor condition issues, thats easily about right. Those on line who are trying to sell it for $150 or more seem to be engaged in wishful thinking. As an example of Pyle and Wyeth’s work its lovely, but apparently fairly common. As an example of Andrew’s work it is interesting, but far too disconnected from the mature art that would make his work so fascinating.

I think we tend too much to want our books to go up in value for the most meagre reasons. This edition of this book contains the work of Howard Pyle that other editions of the book contain, and some of it shows that the plates could do with some repair. The addition of N.C.’s work is pleasant, but hardly makes itself necessary to a collector of either artist. Andrew’s work here is fascinating, but meagre. Hardly essential to any but the most extreme collectors of his work, but still nice to have.

I’m glad I have it. But I would hate to have thought my brother paid too much for it. As is, I think he got it just right.