Howard Pyle (March 5, 1853 - November 9, 1911) was an American illustrator and author, primarily of books for young people. In 1894 he began teaching illustration at the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry (now Drexel University). After 1900, he founded his own school of art and illustration, named the Howard Pyle School of Illustration Art. The scholar Henry C. Pitz later used the term Brandywine School for the illustration artists and Wyeth family artists of the Brandywine region. Pyle's home and studio in Wilmington, is still standing and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. His 1883 classic publication The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood remains remains his most popular book. He is also well known for his illustrations of pirates, and is credited with creating what has become the modern stereotype of pirate dress.

He published his first novel, Otto of the Silver Hand, in 1888. He also illustrated historical and adventure stories for periodicals such as Harper's Magazine and St. Nicholas Magazine. Pyle travelled to Florence, Italy in 1910 to study mural painting. He died there in 1911 of a sudden kidney infection (Bright's Disease).