Abbey, Edwin Austin

Abbey, Edwin Austin (b Philadelphia, 1 Apr. 1852; d London, 1 Aug. 1911).
American painter, etcher, and book illustrator, highly successful in England (where he settled in 1878) as well as in his native country. He specialized in historical scenes and had several large and prestigious commissions, most notably a set of murals (completed 1902) in Boston Public Library representing the quest for the Holy Grail (his friend Sargent also painted murals in the library) and the official painting commemorating Edward VII's coronation in 1902 (Buckingham Palace, London). Such paintings now seem rather overblown and ponderous, and his reputation rests mainly on his lively book illustrations. He was particularly prolific for Harper's Weekly, his association with the magazine lasting from 1870 until his death. Although he always remained an American citizen, Abbey was devoted to cricket and had a private ground at his house at Fairford in Gloucestershire.