Edward Austin Abbey [also known as E.A. Abbey] was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 1 April 1852. He began his artistic training in 1866, studying drawing with the Philadelphia portrait and landscape painter Isaac L. Williams (1817-1895). He entered a local wood engravers workshop in 1868, simultaneously attending evening classes in drawing at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts under Christian Schussele (1824-79). After two years at the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Art, he joined Harper Brothers as a draughtsman at their New York office. It was here that he learned the finer points of illustrating regularly contributing to Harper's Weekly. He subsequently produced numerous illustrations and sketches for Harper's Weekly, Scribner's Magazine and other magazines. He also illustrated several highly successful books, including Christmas Stories by Charles Dickens (1875), Selections from the Poetry of Robert Herrick (1882), She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith (1887), and a four-volume set of The Comedies of Shakespeare for Harper & Brothers in 1896. In 1878 he moved to England and lived for two years in Worcestershire, before returning to the USA. In 1883 he returned to England where he remained for the rest of his life. He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1885 to [posthumously] 1912. During his years in England he also exhibited at Agnew & Sons Gallery, New Gallery, Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, and Royal Society of Painters in Water Colours in London; Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool; Manchester City Art Gallery; Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh; Royal Birmingham Society of Artists; and at the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts. He was elected a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours in 1883, an Associate of the Royal Academy (RA) in 1896, and a Royal Academician (RA) in 1898. He was also elected a member of the National Academy of Design, in 1902, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Society of Painters in Temper, and of the Bath Society of Artists, serving as as its President from 1904 to 1910. Abbey executed some notable decorative panels and murals including for Boston Library in Boston, Massachusetts, and for the rotunda of the new Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. At the time of his death he was working on the "Reading of the Declaration of Independence" mural. The work was completed by John Singer Sargent and was later installed in the House Chamber of the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Abbey was commissioned to paint the official record of the Coronation of King Edward VII in 1902. Abbey died in London, England on 1 August 1911