Edwin Austin Abbey

Edwin Austin Abbey (1852-1911) was an American artist known for his work as an illustrator and painter. He was born in Philadelphia and showed an early interest in art. In 1871, he enrolled in the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and studied under Christian Schussele, a German-born painter known for his historical and genre scenes. Abbey later traveled to Europe to study art, and he eventually settled in England, where he became a member of the Royal Academy. Abbey's work was highly sought after, and he received many commissions for murals and other large-scale projects. He is best known for his illustrations of Shakespeare's plays, which were highly acclaimed in his time and remain popular today. Abbey died in 1911 and was buried in England's Westminster Abbey, a rare honor for an American artist.