Sam Charles Explained

Sam Charles (1887-1949) was an American artist, pianist and professor. He was born in Agawam, Massachusetts, and was a life-long New Englander, living primarily in Wellesley, Massachusetts.[1] [2] [3] [4]

He served on the music faculty of Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts and at Groton School. He admired and performed the music of modern (to his time) French composers, particularly Claude Debussy.[5] [6] He was a well-known New England artist, painting primarily landscapes in watercolor, with a unique, free-flowing style, making skilled use of unpainted space.[7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] He was also a very talented artist in oil, and painted at least two portraits - one of Rosalia B. Parker (Mrs. Maurice W. Parker, Sr.) and one of her father, Louis Besserer. Charles was a dear friend of the Parker family, and visited their home in Cohasset, Massachusetts often, which had the advantage of having no close neighbors, so he could play piano as loud and long as he wanted without disturbing anyone.[21] In describing Charles' painting technique, Boston Globe writer A. J. Philpott credited Charles with having “a style all his own” and being one who is “is impressionistic and gets his effects with a rare economy of line and color.”[22] [23] [24] [25] His works were described by fellow Globe writer Edgar J. Driscoll, Jr. as follows: “Simplicity is the key to most of his works, for the artist describes with spare brush work the out-of-doors scenes which catch his eye. The results have a great deal of quiet charm.”[26] [27]

Charles visited Europe on multiple occasions, performed piano there and painted a number of “bright, fresh, clear and happy recordings of sleeping European villages” in addition to the numerous New England scenes he painted.[28] [29]

Notes and References

  1. ”Music and Musicians,” Boston Daily Globe, p. 50, March 2, 1919.
  2. Philpott, A. J. ”Contemporary Art Exhibition Opened,” Daily Boston Globe, p. 20, February 4, 1935
  3. ”Modernist Exhibit Lacks Propaganda,” Daily Boston Globe, p. 3, July 1, 1935.
  4. "Cape Cod Art Display Slated to Open Sunday," Daily Boston Globe, p. 4, July 14, 1938.
  5. ”Music and Musicians,” Boston Daily Globe, p. 49, March 9, 1919.
  6. ”Sam Charles’ Recital of Modern French Music,” Boston Daily Globe, p. 10, March 13, 1919.
  7. Philpott, A. J. “N.E. Artists’ Water Colors Shown at Jordan Marsh Co,” Daily Boston Globe, p. 6, April 2, 1936.
  8. ”Judges Chosen for Junior League Exhibition,” Daily Boston Globe, p. C7, February 27, 1938.
  9. ”Cape Cod Art Display Slated to Open Sunday,” Daily Boston Globe, p. 4, July 14, 1938.
  10. Philpott, A. J. “150 Artists Donate to Benefit Exhibit,” Daily Boston Globe, p. 4, March 9, 1939.
  11. ”Maria Jelmar to Give Benefit Concert in Wellesley,” Daily Boston Globe, p. B46, May 12, 1940.
  12. Gilchrist’s Store to Exhibit Works of New England Artists This Week,” Daily Boston Globe, p. B33, November 16, 1941.
  13. Philpott, A. J. “This Week in the World of Art: McCormick Needlework Collection on Exhibition at Fine Arts Museum,” Daily Boston Globe, p. B2, April 11, 1943.
  14. Philpott, A. J. “This Week in the Art World: Work of 75 N.E. Artists to be Sold at Auction for Russian War Relief,” Daily Boston Globe, p. 10, May 3, 1943.
  15. Philpott, A. J. “This Week in Art World: Noted Portraits at Spring Show,” Daily Boston Globe, p. 15, May 18, 1943.
  16. ”War Time Society: Wellesley Family to Give Art Exhibit,” Daily Boston Globe, p. 5, Nov. 25, 1944.
  17. ”France Forever Sponsors V-E Day Anniversary Pops on May 8,” Daily Boston Globe, p. 10A, April 14, 1946.
  18. Philpott, A. J. “This Week in the Art World: Arts, Crafts Society Holds 50th Exhibit at Filene’s,” Daily Boston Globe, p. 21, April 13, 1947.
  19. Driscoll, Jr., Edgar S. “This Week in the Art World: Woodward Scores with Annual Spring Exhibit,” Daily Boston Globe, p. C37, April 18, 1948.
  20. Doll & Richards advertisement, Daily Boston Globe, p. D77, November 6, 1955.
  21. [Wilmon Brewer|Brewer, Wilmon]
  22. Philpott, A. J. “Exhibitions Here of Water Colors,” Daily Boston Globe, p. A12, February 24, 1935.
  23. Philpott, A. J. “Fine Arts Museum Presented Sixth-Century Head of Buddha,” Daily Boston Globe, p. B16, April 18, 1943.
  24. Philpott, A. J. “Remarkable Exhibit of Paintings by N.E. Artists Opens Here,” Daily Boston Globe, p. D10, April 22, 1945.
  25. Philpott, A. J. “This Week in the Art World: Current Exhibition Illustrates Significance of ‘Abstraction,’” Daily Boston Globe, p. D10, April 27, 1945.
  26. Driscoll, Jr., Edgar J. “This Week in the Art World: Noteworthy Exhibits Open Here and in Cambridge,” Daily Boston Globe, p. C36, May 1, 1949.
  27. Driscoll, Jr., Edgar J. “This Week in the Art World: Great and Near Great in ‘Portraits in Prints,’” Daily Boston Globe, p. D83, November 13, 1955.
  28. Driscoll, Jr., Edgar. “This Week in the Art World: Tech Exhibition in Hayden Library Has Style, Direction and Usefulness,” Daily Boston Globe, p. C45, May 21, 1950.
  29. Driscoll, Jr., Edgar. “This Week in the Art World: Great and Near Great in ‘Portraits in Prints,’” Daily Boston Globe, p. D83, November 13, 1955.

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