Howard Pyle (1853-1911) was a notable illustrator and author of children's books, including four volumes of 'Arthurian Legends" and many memorable Arthurian legend images. He attended Friends' School in Wilmington, but, Pyle himself later recalled, "he spent his time largely in scrawling drawings on his slate and in his books". Realizing their son's lack of interest in studying, the Pyle's gave up their idea of sending Howard to college and instead his mother encouraged him to study art. At sixteen he began three years of daily commutes to Philadelphia in order to study under the Belgian artist Van der Weilen. These classes would be the only systematic training in art that Pyle would receive and provided a solid foundation in the technique of drawing. His early illustrations, short storie