Art prints of paintings
Edwin Austin Abbey
Explore our collection of art prints of paintings by Edwin Austin Abbey, a master of Anglo-American romanticism. His works inspired by Shakespeare and medieval legends add a noble and poetic touch to your interior decor.
This collection brings together reproductions of Edwin Austin Abbey (1852–1911), an American illustrator, painter and muralist who settled in England. Shakespeare, Arthurian legends, Pennsylvania history, historical costumes, portraits and preparatory studies form a catalogue closely connected to theatre and storytelling.
Edwin Austin Abbey, from Philadelphia to England
Born in Philadelphia, Abbey first became known as an illustrator. He travelled to England in the late 1870s and later settled there, joining an international artistic community.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art describes him as an illustrator, painter and muralist, particularly recognised for his historical, Arthurian and Shakespearean subjects. His work evolved from drawings made for books to large-scale narrative painting.
Shakespeare at the heart of the catalogue
Abbey illustrated and painted numerous scenes from Shakespeare. The catalogue spans Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, King Lear, Julius Caesar, Romeo and Juliet, Henry IV and Troilus and Cressida.
Troilus and Cressida before Agamemnon’s tent demonstrates his taste for groups, costumes and theatrical spatial composition.
Hamlet, Ophelia and the play scene
Hamlet is represented through several moments: Claudius’s prayer, the appearance of the ghost, the play scene and Ophelia’s fate. Hamlet: Now I Could Drink Hot Blood draws on the tension of Act III.
The figure studies show how Abbey prepared attitudes, drapery and poses before the final composition. They suit a more understated display than the large-scale scenes.
Macbeth, Othello and Julius Caesar
Lady Macbeth: Give Me the Daggers belongs to the nocturnal and dramatic episodes. Iago, Caesar’s ghost and other isolated figures extend this theme.
Abbey uses costume, gesture and gaze to identify the theatrical moment. Architecture and props transform the image into a true stage setting.
King Lear and dynastic drama
The painting devoted to Act I of King Lear is one of the major works documented by the Met. The catalogue also includes studies of Goneril and Regan, the king’s daughters.
These scenes rely on the arrangement of the characters and their relationships. They lend themselves to horizontal formats, which preserve the group’s legibility and the room’s depth.
“Who Is Sylvia?” and the comedies
Who Is Sylvia? is inspired by The Two Gentlemen of Verona. The National Gallery of Art highlights Abbey’s attention to Renaissance costumes and his connection with the English Pre-Raphaelite world.
Falstaff, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Measure for Measure and adaptations of Oliver Goldsmith offer a lighter side, built around character and stageplay.
The Quest of the Holy Grail in Boston
For the Boston Public Library, Abbey created a cycle of fifteen panels devoted to Galahad’s quest, installed between 1895 and 1902. Study for The Quest of the Holy Grail forms part of the preparation for this extensive ensemble.
Galahad’s red cloak serves as a visual marker throughout the sequence. The narrative moves through the Round Table, the Grail Castle, the Virtues, the Seven Deadly Sins and the city of Sarras.
Galahad, the Solomon’s ship and the allegorical figures
Studies of Solomon’s ship, Amfortas, the angels and the zodiacal figures show the gradual creation of the mural narrative. Group drawings and isolated studies make it possible to compare the overall composition with its details.
These works suit a medieval or Symbolist selection. A simple frame leaves room for the silhouettes, drapery and decorative motifs.
The Pennsylvania State Capitol
Abbey also received important commissions for the State Capitol in Harrisburg. Figure Study for The Apotheosis of Pennsylvania belongs to this programme.
The compositions evoke the state’s history, labour, industry and civic ideals. The catalogue preserves studies for the rotunda, the House of Representatives and various allegorical genii.
The Hours and the Harrisburg ceilings
Study for the Ceiling of The Hours shows the preparation of a decoration intended to be viewed from below.
The figures of the hours, zodiac signs and drapery require a circular or ascending arrangement. Presented separately, these studies reveal the precision of the preparatory work.
Illustration, literature and Harper’s
Before creating his major decorative schemes, Abbey established his reputation as an illustrator. Shakespeare, Oliver Goldsmith, Robert Herrick and Nathaniel Hawthorne informed this work intended for publication.
Study for The Scarlet Letter connects American narrative, historical costume and narrative drawing. The New England scenes belong to the same aspect of his work.
Costumes, drapery and architecture
Knights, Renaissance ladies, soldiers, musicians and royal figures required extensive documentary research. Studies of dresses, cloaks, armour and interiors are not mere details: they determine the scene’s credibility.
Study of Westminster Abbey bears witness to this attention to architecture during the coronation of Edward VII.
Portraits and intimate figures
Portraits of Mrs Abbey, seated women, young men and figures in a garden offer a contrast with the monumental narratives. Portrait of Mrs Abbey belongs to this more personal group.
These sheets and paintings focus on posture, the face or the colour of a garment. They can be paired with figure studies without depicting a specific literary subject.
Landscapes of England, Italy and Scotland
Ambleside, Staffa, Loch Linnhe, Perugia and Castel Fusano show Abbey observing valleys, coasts, trees and architecture. Landscape with a Figure Walking Along a Path combines natural space with human presence.
These studies are more immediate than the great historical scenes. They make it possible to create a calm collection around the artist’s travels and places of work.
Choosing an Edwin Austin Abbey reproduction
The theatrical and mural scenes often favour a horizontal format. Isolated figures, portraits and costume studies are better suited to a vertical orientation. Check the dimensions offered on each product page.
For the poster option, the print is offered on 140 g paper with an HD finish at 150 DPI. Dimensions, canvas and framing options vary according to the artwork, format and destination. Only available variants are displayed.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Abbey associated with Shakespeare?
He illustrated numerous Shakespearean subjects and later painted major scenes devoted notably to Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear and the comedies.
Where is his Holy Grail cycle located?
The fifteen panels are installed in the Abbey Room of the Boston Public Library. The catalogue includes several preparatory studies related to this cycle.
How can I view the available formats?
Open the artwork page, then select the medium and dimensions. The price and options appear according to the variants actually offered.